(MOSCOW) - Russia on Thursday termed EU criticism of Moscow in its diplomatic row with London "an unpleasant surprise" that would "certainly affect" EU-Russia relations.

The European Union's call on Russia to accept British demands to extradite a murder suspect "was an unpleasant surprise for us," Vladimir Chizhov, Russia's EU representative, said in Brussels, Interfax news agency reported.

"This will certainly affect relations between the EU and Russia," he said.

The row erupted after Russia last week refused to extradite a Russian national accused of poisoning former Russian agent and British citizen Alexander Litvinenko in London last year.

The European Union on Wednesday supported London in the crisis, with the Portuguese presidency voicing "disappointment" with Russia and calling on Moscow to cooperate with the demands made by London.

The Russian constitution forbids Russia from extraditing its own citizens, but Britain insists that Moscow could extradite the suspect, Andrei Lugovoi, under the terms of an international convention it has signed.

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