Kremlin says British foreign secretary's Hitler remarks unacceptable

MOSCOW, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The Kremlin said Thursday that British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson's Hitler remarks were "disgusting" and "unacceptable".

"It is an absolutely disgusting statement, which does not fit a foreign minister of any country," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a daily news briefing, adding "It is insulting and unacceptable."

On Wednesday Johnson was speaking at a parliamentary committee meeting, when Member of Parliament Ian Austin proposed boycotting the World Cup, saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin is going to use it the way Adolf Hitler used the notorious 1936 Olympics.

"I think the comparison with 1936 is certainly right, and I think it is an emetic prospect, frankly, to think of Putin glorying in this sporting event," Johnson said.

The 1936 Summer Olympic Games were held in Berlin three years after the Nazis came to power. Hitler saw the Games as an opportunity to promote his regime and ideas of German supremacy.

Russia will host the FIFA World Cup in 11 cities from June 14 to July 15.

Last week, British Prime Minister Theresa May said no British government ministers or members of the Royal Family will attend the World Cup over the case of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal.

Russia-Britain ties have worsened recently over the poisoning of Skripal and his daughter in Britain earlier in March. London accuses Moscow of being involved in the incident, but the latter has denied any involvement and insisted on direct participation in the investigation of the case. Enditem