Russia emboldened

SIR – It appears that Russia continues to act with impunity, ignorant of her increasingly poor reputation and the loss of trust this engenders.

Should she prove culpable in the attack on Colonel Sergei Skripal (“Putin swore revenge on poisoned Russian spy”, report, March 7), our response must be comprehensive. Charlie Messervy-whiting

Worcester

SIR – The craven response to the murder of the former spy Alexander Litvinenko in 2006, and the acquiescence of police and security services around the world in the suspected murders of other Russian exiles, has clearly emboldened Russia.

Is there nothing we can do except throw a hissy fit about the World Cup? Sue Pickard

Epsom Downs, Surrey

SIR – I wonder if any of our sportsmen and women will follow the example of the British equestrian team who boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games following the Russian invasion of Afghanistan.

As team member Lucinda Green put it: “We just felt – and I just felt too in my own heart – that these Russians had walked in on someone else’s freedom, and how can we go and play games there as though we don’t care?” Gerard Noel

Cheltenham, Gloucestershire