This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/mar/29/russia-accuses-uk-of-violating-international-law-skripal-case

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Russia accuses UK of violating international law over Skripal case Russia accuses UK of violating international law over Skripal case
(35 minutes later)
The Russian foreign ministry has accused Britain of breaking international law by refusing to provide information on Yulia Skripal, who was poisoned in England with her father Sergei, a former Russian spy, earlier this month. The Russian foreign ministry has accused Britain of breaking international law by refusing to provide information on Yulia Skripal, who was poisoned along with her father, Sergei, a former spy, in Salisbury this month.
Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the ministry, told reporters in Moscow that Britain had declined to cooperate with Russia on the investigation into the poisoning and had not provided any updates on Yulia Skripal despite the fact she was a Russian citizen. Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the ministry, said Britain had declined to cooperate with Russia on the investigation into the poisoning and had not provided any updates on Yulia Skripal despite the fact she was a Russian citizen.
Britain accuses Russia of responsibility for the poisoning, something Moscow vehemently denies.Britain accuses Russia of responsibility for the poisoning, something Moscow vehemently denies.
More than 25 countries have announced plans to expel over 130 Russian diplomats in solidarity with the UK over what has been described as the first chemical weapons attack on European soil since the second world war. More than 25 countries have announced plans to expel a total of more than 130 Russian diplomats in solidarity with the UK over what has been described as the first chemical weapons attack on European soil since the second world war.
The Russian foreign ministry said it would be announcing retaliatory measures shortly.The Russian foreign ministry said it would be announcing retaliatory measures shortly.
Zakharova said Britain’s behaviour ran counter to a 1968 consular agreement signed between the then Soviet Union and Britain under which Moscow was meant to have access to its nationals on British soil and to be able to give them advice.Zakharova said Britain’s behaviour ran counter to a 1968 consular agreement signed between the then Soviet Union and Britain under which Moscow was meant to have access to its nationals on British soil and to be able to give them advice.
Zakharova said nobody had cancelled the agreement, which she said still had force in international law. The UK is likely to argue that an agreement between the UK and the Soviet Union is not enforceable in court, and there is no reason to give the Russians access to a woman that it claims was responsible for her attempted murder. Zakharova said nobody had cancelled the agreement, which she said still had force in international law. The UK is likely to argue that an agreement between the UK and the Soviet Union is not enforceable in court and there is no reason to give Russia access to a woman it apparently tried to kill.
Yulia Skripal was said to be “improving rapidly” and no longer in a critical condition. Her father remains in a critical but stable condition, Salisbury NHS Trust said on Thursday. Yulia Skripal is said to be “improving rapidly” in hospital and is no longer in a critical condition. Her father remains in a critical but stable condition, Salisbury NHS trust said on Thursday.
Russia also challenged claims made by Dean Haydon, Britain’s counter-terror police chief, that the Skripals first came into contact with the nerve agent from their front door. Russia challenged claims made by Dean Haydon, Britain’s counter-terror police chief, that the Skripals first came into contact with the nerve agent from their front door.
“Traces of the nerve agent have been found at some of the other scenes detectives have been working at over the past few weeks, but at lower concentrations to that found at the home address,” Haydon said. “Traces of the nerve agent have been found at some of the other scenes detectives have been working at over the past few weeks, but at lower concentrations to that found at the home address,” Haydon said on Wednesday.
Investigators had sealed off the bench where the Skripals were found, a pub and restaurant the pair visited, and the grave of the former spy’s wife. Maj-Gen Alexander Mikhailov, from the Russian security agency FSB, claimed that if it was true the poisoning happened on the doorstep then the Skripals would have died instantly and would not made it as far as the park where they were found slumped on a bench.
Maj-Gen Alexander Mikhailov, from the Russian security agency FSB, claimed May had “screwed up” and if it was true the poison was found on the doorstep then the Skripals would have died instantly and not made it as far as a park where they were found slumped on a bench. Mikhailov said Theresa May should resign for misleading world opinion.
He said May should resign because she misled world opinion. Both sides are waiting for a report from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which sent experts to visit the scene in Salisbury and is studying samples of the nerve agent.
Both sides are waiting for a report back from the Organisation for the Prohibiton of Chemical Weapons, which sent experts to visit the scene in Salisbury and is studying samples of the nerve agent. Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, responded to reports in the Guardian that May was looking at whether she could take steps to restrict City institutions from handling Russian sovereign debt.
Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, responded to reports in the Guardian that May is looking at whether she can take steps to restrict London city institutions from handling Russian sovereign debt. The proposal has been pressed on her by the chair of the foreign affairs select committee, Tom Tugenhadt, and some Russian exiles living in London.
The proposal has been pressed upon her by the chairman of the foreign affairs select committee, Tom Tugenhadt, and Russian exiles living in London. Peskov said it was difficult to guess what other options for anti-Russian measures Britain could take.
Peskov said it was difficult to guess what other options for anti-Russian measures Britain can take.
“As for the UK, due to the fact that now it is a fairly unpredictable country in relations with the Russian Federation, it is difficult for us to judge what other options can be considered, and what can be the basis for this,” he said.“As for the UK, due to the fact that now it is a fairly unpredictable country in relations with the Russian Federation, it is difficult for us to judge what other options can be considered, and what can be the basis for this,” he said.
In Germany, the government’s decision to expel Russian diplomats this week in solidarity with the UK has widened splits, with more senior politicians demanding the UK comes forward with concrete proof of Russian involvement in the poisoning. In Germany, the government’s decision to expel Russian diplomats this week in solidarity with the UK has widened splits, with senior politicians demanding the UK comes forward with concrete proof of Russian involvement in the poisoning.
The deputy leader of the Social Democrats, Ralf Stegner, criticised the expulsion in an interview for the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, saying he feared an escalatotion in measures “which can still hurt us very much”. He said “appearances and plausibility were not enough to convict”. The deputy leader of the Social Democrats, Ralf Stegner, criticised the expulsion in an interview for the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, saying he feared an escalatotion in measures “which can still hurt us very much”. He said: “Appearances and plausibility are not enough to convict.”
Sergei SkripalSergei Skripal
Europe
RussiaRussia
Europe
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content