J Foreman: its the money darling, do you think that a poor russian plumber would get a visa and residency? or an antipodean for that matter.

A Stewart, Wellington, New Zealand

the murdered was called Alex Litvinenko. Not Andrei.

Fazal Khan, London, UK,

LAKSHMAN PARDHANANI you are clearly correct but the solution lies with the Indian Government. Just refuse them entry visas.
If every country, including the UK, did the same the issue would become a non issue

JD, London,

Well they come for the shopping. They're allowed to stay because they're very rich, so they have different rules to us normal folk. They have no interest in our country over and above the designer bars and shops they inhabit.

I'd bet everything I have they pay no tax at all here.

They don't get involved with philanthropic projects because moneyed Russians are only interested in keeping their money and acquiring more.

They contribute nothing to UK society. But they're rich. So that's OK.

MD, Varna,

In fairness it has to be said that Putin has restored for Russia its pride in many ways consigned to ashes by the likes of Yeltsin and by making himself a laughing stock in the process. Some of the exiles now in London have been the beneficiaries of this largesse.
It is equally true that Russian society appears to have a very dark side with its huge drinks problems,divorce and criminality. London needs to be very careful before the criminal tendencies of the expatriates begin to become a cancer in the larger society. You only have to come to Goa to see how the Russian mafia with their illegal activities, drugs and prostiutution now pose a serious threat to the morals and character of the generally decent Goan populace in North Goa.

LAKSHMAN PARDHANANI, GOA, India

Good point, J Foreman of Hastings. I would like to know that, too.

margie , victoria, australia

The British should be proud that outspoken and bright Russians chose their country as a safe haven away from the Kremlin monsters. It is a measure of how truly free and democratic this society is. I am proud of Britain.

Sergei Cristo, London, UK

Send them home (but keep their money).

JG, London,

And now we know how Stella Rimmington can claim "there are more Russian spies in Britain now than at any point during the Cold War".

James, London,

Lenin also was living in London before russian revolution

Roman, Toronto,

The article seems to be missing a conclusion. They all worth each other, but the ones who happen to be in opposition to Putin for whatever reason somehow automatically become good guys in Western eyes. Whoever made any sort of big money in Russia is a crook by definition and cynical one at that too. They only use gullible British for their own aims. And it's a bit of understatement to say that Abromovich is on reasonable terms with Putin - intimate terms is more like, Roman being Putin's private cashier. Remember the Sibneft deal when Abromovich was paid $13bn for company half its worth - which of course he shared with Putin and Co?

Alex, London,

Could anyone explain why so many citizens of a non-EU country have been able to obtain long-stay visa and even residency?

J Foreman, Hastings, England