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Britain’s secession from EU up to EU, British people to decide — Putin

"This is the business of the European Union and the business of the people of Great Britain," Russian President said

ST. PETERSBURG, June 17. /TASS/. The issue of the possibility of Britain’s secession from the European Union is up to the EU and Britain to decide, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday at a meeting with the chief executives of international information agencies.

"This is the business of the European Union and the business of the people of Great Britain," Putin said.

He said Russia should not be linked to the issue.

"It seems to me that it is not very decent to fasten Russia to any problem, even one that we have no relation to," Putin said. "Intellectual people do not behave like that."

He said experts assess the consequences of Britain’s withdrawal from the EU in different ways. "Most agree that it would be harmful to Europe. But some say that Europe would only be more stable," he said.

The Russian president said it is important to bring it to people who will come to vote objective information for them to understand both negative and positive consequences of the decision.

Putin suggested asking oneself why the current prime minister of Great Britain put the question of the possibility of the country’s secession from the EU to the referendum.

"Why has he done that? To blackmail Europe once again? Or to frighten someone? What’s the goal if he is against it himself? I would like to say that it is not our business, it’s the business of the people of Great Britain," he said.

"I have my own viewpoint on that account. I can’t say in advance, can’t say anything about results. No one knows it yet. It’s like fifty-fifty. I have my own view whether it is good or not. But I will abstain for the time being from speaking about it," Putin concluded.