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| Russia spy poisoning: 23 UK diplomats expelled from Moscow | Russia spy poisoning: 23 UK diplomats expelled from Moscow |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Russia is to expel 23 British diplomats in a row over the nerve agent attack on an-ex spy and his daughter in the UK. | Russia is to expel 23 British diplomats in a row over the nerve agent attack on an-ex spy and his daughter in the UK. |
| The Russian foreign ministry said the UK staff would be expelled from Moscow within a week in response to Britain's decision to expel 23 Russian diplomats. | The Russian foreign ministry said the UK staff would be expelled from Moscow within a week in response to Britain's decision to expel 23 Russian diplomats. |
| It also said it would close the British Council in Russia, which promotes cultural ties between the nations, and the British Consulate in St Petersburg. | It also said it would close the British Council in Russia, which promotes cultural ties between the nations, and the British Consulate in St Petersburg. |
| Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia remain critically ill in hospital. | Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia remain critically ill in hospital. |
| They were found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury, Wiltshire on 4 March. | They were found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury, Wiltshire on 4 March. |
| The UK government says they were poisoned with a nerve agent of a type developed by Russia called Novichok - the Russian government denies any involvement in the attack. | The UK government says they were poisoned with a nerve agent of a type developed by Russia called Novichok - the Russian government denies any involvement in the attack. |
| Prime Minister Theresa May said the UK government would consider its next steps "in the coming days, alongside our allies and partners". | Prime Minister Theresa May said the UK government would consider its next steps "in the coming days, alongside our allies and partners". |
| "We will never tolerate a threat to the life of British citizens and others on British soil from the Russian government," she added. | "We will never tolerate a threat to the life of British citizens and others on British soil from the Russian government," she added. |
| The British Council, the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, said it was "profoundly disappointed" at being told to cease operations in Russia. | The British Council, the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, said it was "profoundly disappointed" at being told to cease operations in Russia. |
| BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins said the move was significant because the Council fosters people-to-people relationships and, as it serves young people, could be crucial for the UK's relationship with a post-Putin Russia. | BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins said the move was significant because the Council fosters people-to-people relationships and, as it serves young people, could be crucial for the UK's relationship with a post-Putin Russia. |
| Meanwhile, counter-terrorism police have renewed their appeal for witnesses who may have seen Mr Skripal's burgundy BMW car in Salisbury on 4 March. | Meanwhile, counter-terrorism police have renewed their appeal for witnesses who may have seen Mr Skripal's burgundy BMW car in Salisbury on 4 March. |
| Neil Basu, Met Police Assistant Commissioner, said: "We are learning more about Sergei and Yulia's movements but we need to be clearer around their exact movements on the morning of the incident." | Neil Basu, Met Police Assistant Commissioner, said: "We are learning more about Sergei and Yulia's movements but we need to be clearer around their exact movements on the morning of the incident." |
| Police believe the car - registration plate HD09 WAO - may have been in the areas of London Road, Churchill Way North and Wilton Road at about 09:15 GMT. At about 13:30 GMT it was seen being driven down Devizes Road towards the centre of town. | Police believe the car - registration plate HD09 WAO - may have been in the areas of London Road, Churchill Way North and Wilton Road at about 09:15 GMT. At about 13:30 GMT it was seen being driven down Devizes Road towards the centre of town. |
| Mr Basu said investigators were making good progress but further work could take "months". | Mr Basu said investigators were making good progress but further work could take "months". |
| He added that the continued presence of officers in the area wearing specialist protective clothing was a precaution and that the risk to the public was low. | He added that the continued presence of officers in the area wearing specialist protective clothing was a precaution and that the risk to the public was low. |
| Det Sgt Nick Bailey, who was part of the initial response to the incident, remains in a serious but stable condition in hospital after being exposed to the chemical. | Det Sgt Nick Bailey, who was part of the initial response to the incident, remains in a serious but stable condition in hospital after being exposed to the chemical. |
| UK 'defending itself' | UK 'defending itself' |
| Britain's ambassador to Russia, Laurie Bristow, was summoned to Russia's foreign ministry on Saturday morning, where he was informed of Moscow's decision. | Britain's ambassador to Russia, Laurie Bristow, was summoned to Russia's foreign ministry on Saturday morning, where he was informed of Moscow's decision. |
| Following the meeting, Mr Bristow said the UK had no quarrel with the Russian people and would "always do what is necessary to defend ourselves". | Following the meeting, Mr Bristow said the UK had no quarrel with the Russian people and would "always do what is necessary to defend ourselves". |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By Sarah Rainsford, BBC Moscow correspondent | By Sarah Rainsford, BBC Moscow correspondent |
| The British ambassador had been expecting this call for three days. | The British ambassador had been expecting this call for three days. |
| In the end, he spent just over 10 minutes in the foreign ministry where he was handed Russia's counter-sanctions. | In the end, he spent just over 10 minutes in the foreign ministry where he was handed Russia's counter-sanctions. |
| The response from Moscow is robust and does go further than the UK measures. But it doesn't appear calculated to escalate tensions. | The response from Moscow is robust and does go further than the UK measures. But it doesn't appear calculated to escalate tensions. |
| The ministry has stuck to 23 for 23 in terms of diplomatic expulsions, no more. | The ministry has stuck to 23 for 23 in terms of diplomatic expulsions, no more. |
| And while it is ordering the closure of the UK consulate in St Petersburg - both Moscow and Ekaterinburg remain open. | And while it is ordering the closure of the UK consulate in St Petersburg - both Moscow and Ekaterinburg remain open. |
| Russia's response has also targeted the British Council, which promotes cultural ties. | Russia's response has also targeted the British Council, which promotes cultural ties. |
| That will be seen by Britain as a low blow, hurting the Russian people - not the British government. But the UK is unlikely to want to retaliate in kind. | That will be seen by Britain as a low blow, hurting the Russian people - not the British government. But the UK is unlikely to want to retaliate in kind. |
| The council's activity here had already been significantly curtailed by Moscow after the last crisis in relations, when Alexander Litvinenko was poisoned. | The council's activity here had already been significantly curtailed by Moscow after the last crisis in relations, when Alexander Litvinenko was poisoned. |
| Meanwhile, the double tactic of denial and distraction here continues, both in comments by officials, and in the mocking, dismissive coverage of the Skripal case on state-run media. | Meanwhile, the double tactic of denial and distraction here continues, both in comments by officials, and in the mocking, dismissive coverage of the Skripal case on state-run media. |
| The Russian foreign ministry said in a statement that the British diplomats would be "declared persona non grata", adding that it "reserves the right to introduce other retaliatory measures in case of further unfriendly actions". | The Russian foreign ministry said in a statement that the British diplomats would be "declared persona non grata", adding that it "reserves the right to introduce other retaliatory measures in case of further unfriendly actions". |
| It said it was responding to "provocative actions" and "unproven accusations" by Britain. | It said it was responding to "provocative actions" and "unproven accusations" by Britain. |
| Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also said that the most likely source of the nerve agent was Britain, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Sweden or the United States. | Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also said that the most likely source of the nerve agent was Britain, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Sweden or the United States. |
| Speaking to state-owned Russian news channel Rossiya 24, she said those countries, not Russia, had been intensively testing the substance since the 1990s. | Speaking to state-owned Russian news channel Rossiya 24, she said those countries, not Russia, had been intensively testing the substance since the 1990s. |
| Czech foreign minister Martin Stropnicky rejected the claims as "unsubstantiated" and "a classic way of manipulating information in the public space". | |
| Swedish foreign minister Margot Wallstrom tweeted: "Forcefully reject unacceptable and unfounded allegation" and added, "Russia should answer UK questions instead." | |
| Meanwhile, the Russian ambassador to the UK, Alexander Yakovenko, hosted a reception at the Russian embassy in London for the diplomats who are being expelled from the UK. | |
| Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, speaking in Newcastle, said the emphasis should be on a thorough investigation through the Chemical Weapons Convention. | Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, speaking in Newcastle, said the emphasis should be on a thorough investigation through the Chemical Weapons Convention. |
| "We have to establish exactly where the nerve gas came from, who administered it and prosecute if we can," he said. | "We have to establish exactly where the nerve gas came from, who administered it and prosecute if we can," he said. |
| A Downing Street spokesman has said the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has been invited to come to the UK to take a sample of the nerve agent. | A Downing Street spokesman has said the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has been invited to come to the UK to take a sample of the nerve agent. |
| Russian exiles warned | Russian exiles warned |
| Elsewhere, the Met Police have launched a murder investigation into the death of businessman and Kremlin critic Nikolai Glushkov - a Russian exile who was found dead in his south-London home on Monday. | Elsewhere, the Met Police have launched a murder investigation into the death of businessman and Kremlin critic Nikolai Glushkov - a Russian exile who was found dead in his south-London home on Monday. |
| A post-mortem examination found the 68-year-old died from "compression to the neck". | A post-mortem examination found the 68-year-old died from "compression to the neck". |
| Police say there is no evidence at this stage linking his case with the Salisbury attack. | Police say there is no evidence at this stage linking his case with the Salisbury attack. |
| However, they have begun to contact a number of Russian exiles to discuss their safety. | However, they have begun to contact a number of Russian exiles to discuss their safety. |
| Russia has also opened criminal investigations into "the murder" of Mr Glushkov, and the "attempted murder" of Ms Skripal. | Russia has also opened criminal investigations into "the murder" of Mr Glushkov, and the "attempted murder" of Ms Skripal. |