Russian Spy Poisoning: UK To Throw Out Russian Diplomats In Retaliation
UK government to expel 23 Russian diplomats after Moscow refused to explain how a Russian-made nerve agent was used on a former spy in UK
The UK government has announced its decision to expel 23 Russian diplomats after Moscow refused to explain how a Russian-made nerve agent was used on a former spy in UK. UK Prime Minister Theresa May said the diplomats, who have a week to leave, were identified as "undeclared intelligence officers".
The UK in a note to the UN Security Council said that Russia had used "a weapon so horrific that it is banned in war" in a "peaceful" British city. Addressing the UN Security Council, Britain's deputy UN ambassador, Jonathan Allen, accused Russia of breaking its obligations under the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
May said there was "no alternative conclusion other than that the Russian state was culpable" for the attack on Skripal and his daughter, who fell ill from exposure to a nerve agent called Novichok and their condition is said to be extremely serious.
May said Wednesday that as part of Britain's response to the attack on ex-double agent Sergei Skripal, the government has revoked an invitation to Russia's foreign minister and British Intelligence Agencies will be examining Russian visitors who could be engaged in activities harmful to Britain. She said law enforcement will act "against serious criminals and corrupt elites. There is no place for these people -- or their money -- in our country."
May also confirmed that neither members of the royal family nor ministers would attend the football World Cup in Russia this year.
The Russian government lashed out the UK government's statements, promising that Moscow would take an appropriate and equal counteraction. "Our response measures will not be tardy," the Russian foreign ministry said.
Moscow has maintained that it had no hand in the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the British town of Salisbury earlier this month. The Russian ministry said May's statement was an "unprecedentedly rude provocation which undermines the foundations of normal bilateral dialogue between our countries." It accused London of pursuing a political agenda and choosing to "aggravate relations," calling the announced measures "hostile".
Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman also ridiculed British premier Theresa May's vow to act on Russian nationals using London to launder money throughout Europe. Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the British government "liars," accusing them of failing to process Moscow’s request against dozens of profiles requested by the Russian government. "It's tough to think of a bigger laundry for laundering money than London," Zakharova said on a talk show on Rossiya 1, a state channel.
"And do you know how many Russians we are awaiting from London as per official requests? Over 40 people, among them not just people who brought in dirty money... but serial killers" who have been welcomed by Britain and even received asylum, she said.
"And now they are telling us that people who are at odds with the law are not welcomed in Britain?" she said. She didn't name any of the individuals. "These people are liars," Zakharova said, referring to British officials.
Zakharova also ridiculed the measures laid out by Theresa May earlier in the day. "The royal family won't come. I don't know how you'll take it, we must tough it out," she told the sniggering hosts of the show. "Somehow we must brave through it."
Russia will be hosting the Football World Cup in June this year.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 15, 2018 07:46 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).