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2018 FIFA WORLD CUP IN RUSSIA

Russian lawmaker blasts UK top diplomat’s ‘detestable’ remarks on 2018 FIFA World Cup

A lawmaker comments on UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson’s comparison of Russia’s hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup this summer with the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany

Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson PA via AP

Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson

MOSCOW, March 22. /TASS/. UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson’s comparison of Russia’s hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup this summer with the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany testifies to his brazen behavior, which is inappropriate for people of his rank, Vyacheslav Volodin, a speaker for the Russian parliament’s lower house, said on Thursday.

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Kremlin blasts Johnson’s ‘disgusting’ comparison of 2018 FIFA World Cup to 1936 Olympics

"British politicians have stooped to detestable behavior," State Duma speaker Volodin said. "It all points to the fact that they are desperate."

"Moreover, the conflict with the European Union about the Brexit process forces them into making up an agenda of other conflicts to distract attention from this situation," Volodin said. "(Johnson’s) statement is really obnoxious and is inappropriate for people of his rank."

"There is certainly a level of trust by the population for the present-day UK government," Volodin said. "All of this combined serve as a detonator for making such statements. However, such statements are inadmissible."

One of the UK’s opposition lawmakers stated earlier the Russian authorities would use the upcoming FIFA World Cup to boost the country’s global image and compared it with the 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Nazi Germany.

Speaking to lawmakers on Wednesday, UK Foreign Secretary Johnson stated that he agreed with this allegation saying "Your characterization of what is going to happen in Moscow in the World Cup, in all the venues - Yes, I think the comparison with 1936 is certainly right."

Last week, UK Prime Minister Theresa May announced that members of the British government and Britain’s royal family would not attend the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. A total of 208 athletes from Great Britain participated in the 1936 Olympics in then Nazi Germany winning 14 medals (four gold, seven silver and three bronze).

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2018 World Cup in Russia

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