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Diplomat: UK fans just fine in Russia, Downing Street needs to focus on domestic security

The British PM "had better think about the safety of British subjects within her own country," Maria Zakharova said
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova  Alexander Shcherbak/TASS
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova
© Alexander Shcherbak/TASS

MOSCOW, July 5./TASS/. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova suggested UK Prime Minister Theresa May think about the safety of UK nationals in their own country rather than worrying about the British fans visiting Russia for the FIFA World Cup.

"Despite all the mud-slinging against our country ahead of the World Cup, it is now hard to concoct any fables any longer, because indeed the whole world sees everything with their own eyes," the diplomat told a briefing on Thursday.

"However, the Russophobic campaign is not dying down. The UK prime minister has turned up the volume, voicing her concerns about the safety of English fans in Russia. She had better think about the safety of British subjects within her own country," Zakharova pointed out.

"The fans are doing fine here, so don’t worry. You can come and see with your own eyes," she suggested.

To that end, Zakharova commented on reports by the Guardian, alleging that Moscow had repeatedly invited Theresa May to attend the World Cup. "Individual invitations to British politicians [to the World Cup] were neither sent nor revoked," she stressed. "Nobody is luring anyone specifically," she added.