MOSCOW, March 2. /TASS/: The Russian embassy in London does get threats by telephone and e-mail, but still it maintains normal operation, ambassador Andrey Kelin said on the Rossiya-24 round-the-clock television news channel on Wednesday.
"As far as threats are concerned, we do get them to different telephone numbers at the embassy and by e-mail. Such phone calls do happen, but they are few," Kelin said.
He stressed that the embassy was working as usual.
"We do not cancel anything. The consular office is open to visitors, but it is true that people coming to us have to make their way through a crowd of protesters - not a large one, but still," Kelin said.
He explained that a group of demonstrators was permanently present in front of the consular office. On weekends, the crowd grows to 500-600 people. Some demonstrations are taking place at other sites in London.
"There is a risk of being hurt… But the police are on guard. We keep in touch with them. They keep doing their job," he said.
Kelin mentioned attempts at discrimination against Russians at schools and universities.
"I should not say that they are massive," he added. "By and large the people of Britain are far less interested in what is happening in Ukraine than the way it is described in the newspapers."
The Russian ambassador’s speech in the British parliament and plans for Friday’s speech at the London School of Economics have been canceled due to the current political situation.
"Our contacts [with the British side] are somewhat suspended," Kelin said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24 launched a special military operation in Ukraine following a request for assistance from the leaders of the Donbass republics. He said Moscow had no plans for an occupation of Ukrainian territories. The sole aim is the country’s demilitarization and denazification.
