Russian journalist Yelena Tregubova, who wrote a book criticizing President Vladimir Putin for abusing freedom of speech, said she's been granted political asylum in the UK, according to Bloomberg News.
The former Kremlin correspondent for Russia's Kommersant newspaper, who asked for asylum in London last year, said she's "very pleased'' with the decision in comments broadcast on Ekho Moskvy radio. A spokesman for the British Embassy in Moscow, speaking on the customary condition of anonymity, said he couldn't comment on individual cases.
The details:
Tregubova sought asylum in April, saying she feared for her life if she returned to Russia. She lost her Kremlin accreditation in 2001 and was fired by Kommersant after she published ``Tales of a Kremlin Digger'' in 2003. In February 2004, an explosive device went off outside her apartment door in Moscow, and she left Russia for Germany.
Putin complained in July that Britain had granted asylum to 30 people wanted in Russia for "very serious crimes'' and has refused to extradite any of them. The British embassy spokesman couldn't say how many have been granted asylum.
Britain last year sought the extradition of Andrei Lugovoi, wanted to stand trial for the murder of former security service agent Alexander Litvinenko. Russia refused, after which Britain expelled four Russian diplomats and the Russian Foreign Ministry responded in kind.
