Murder and oppression will not earn Russia respect

Commentary feature which concludes that '... the Kremlin must learn that respect comes not from bullying neighbours, still less from oppressing their own citizens. If Russia's leaders really want it to be seen as a 'civilised' country they must embrace 'civilised' standards, including standards of human rights. There is no more important human right than the right to life, as Mr Alexander Litvinenko found to his cost when he was murdered in London earlier in 2007 allegedly by a former KGB officer.