According to sources the foreign secretary said Labor MP Ian Austin was "completely right" to say Russia's president wanted to "gloss over his brutal corrupt regime". Meanwhile Mr. Johnson said that he would have an "urgent conversation" with Russia about the safety of fans at the tournament. Moreover a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said he was "poisoned with hatred".
According to sources a Downing Street spokesman confirmed Mr. Johnson was speaking on behalf of the government and that they were working closely with police on plans for the World Cup. Further the foreign secretary said it was of "crucial importance" in light of 23 British diplomats being expelled from Russia including the individual responsible for football fans.
Previously Boris Johnson described it as "a sign" from President
Putin that "no-one could escape the long arm of Russian revenge".
Furthermore he said "The attack was a sign that President Putin or the
Russian state wanted to give to potential defectors in their own agencies and
this is what happens to you if you decide to support a country with a different
set of values. You can expect to be assassinated'." Moreover he also said
Russia chose the UK for the attack as it had "called out" Russian
abuses "time and again".
