Comment by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on London’s decision not to invite Russian representatives to the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II

The UK Foreign Office has notified the Embassy of Russia in London of the decision not to send invitations to Russian officials, including the heads of the Russian Embassy, to the ceremonial events following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, citing Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine as the reason.

We regard this attempt to use a national tragedy, which has touched the hearts of millions of people across the world, for geopolitical goals and to settle scores with our country as deeply immoral. It especially dishonours the memory of Elizabeth II, who served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service of the British Army, which fought the Nazis and their Ukrainian accomplices Stepan Bandera and Roman Shukhevich during WWII. Today the British elites have taken their side, while Moscow remembers and continues to commemorate all veterans who contributed to the Great Victory. 

We have to say that the example of Elizabeth II, who was a very strong unifying force and did not interfere in politics during her reign as a matter of principle, has not stopped London from making divisive statements in furtherance of its opportunistic aims.

For our part, we express our deep condolences to people in the United Kingdom for their immense loss.