Vladimir Putin not invited to Queen Elizabeth IIs funeral over Ukraine invasion: Report

Owing to his invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be invited to Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, a senior British government source said, CNN reported on Tuesday.

The source claimed that although the complete list of invitees had not yet been decided, representatives from Russia, Belarus, and Myanmar had been excluded, the CNN report added.

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The CNN report stated that the source claimed that Belarus’ support for Putin’s invasion of Ukraine was the reason for Russia and Belarus’ exclusion. According to the insider, Myanmar’s situation is related to how the Rohingya are treated.

On guidance from the government and after representatives of the civil and diplomatic services have thought about the political ramifications of inviting particular leaders, the Palace issues invitations to state funerals.

As per palace etiquette, invitees to family functions should remain a secret, and the palace has made no comments regarding the guest list.

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An invitation to a state funeral, like the one for the late king that will be held in London on Monday, would typically be extended to every nation with whom the United Kingdom has normal diplomatic relations.

Typically, a nation is represented by its political leader, head of state, a high-ranking official, or its ambassador to the UK.

Up to 500 foreign dignitaries were anticipated to attend the funeral, according to a second source in the UK government said, the CNN report added.

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The UK has been one of the most vocal opponents of Russia’s conflict and one of the major donors of resources, equipment, and assistance to Ukraine.

In response to what it has called the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya, a primarily Muslim population persecuted for decades in the country’s largely Buddhist state, the UK has also imposed sanctions on a number of military personnel and businesses in Myanmar.

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On immigration-related charges, Myanmar’s ruling junta earlier this month handed out a year in prison to the former UK ambassador to the nation.