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| Spy poisoning: Russia expels more UK diplomats | Spy poisoning: Russia expels more UK diplomats |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Russia has told Britain a total of more than 50 of its diplomats will have to leave, amid a deepening row over the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in the UK. | Russia has told Britain a total of more than 50 of its diplomats will have to leave, amid a deepening row over the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in the UK. |
| Moscow initially expelled 23 British diplomats after 23 Russian diplomats were ordered out by London. | Moscow initially expelled 23 British diplomats after 23 Russian diplomats were ordered out by London. |
| But now the Russians are insisting that even more UK diplomats should leave. | But now the Russians are insisting that even more UK diplomats should leave. |
| It says the UK and Russian diplomatic missions should be the same size in each country. | It says the UK and Russian diplomatic missions should be the same size in each country. |
| In practice that would mean at least another 27 UK officials being sent home, the BBC's Paul Adams reports from Moscow. | In practice that would mean at least another 27 UK officials being sent home, the BBC's Paul Adams reports from Moscow. |
| But it is also possible that some of the additional reduction could be made up by laying off local staff. | |
| The British government blames Russia for the nerve agent attack on Sergei and Yulia Skripal. Moscow denies it. | The British government blames Russia for the nerve agent attack on Sergei and Yulia Skripal. Moscow denies it. |
| On Friday the British ambassador in Moscow, Laurie Bristow, was told that the UK had a month to cut its diplomatic mission in Russia to the same size as the Russian mission in Britain. | On Friday the British ambassador in Moscow, Laurie Bristow, was told that the UK had a month to cut its diplomatic mission in Russia to the same size as the Russian mission in Britain. |
| On Saturday, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Reuters news agency that that meant Britain would have to cut "a little over 50" of its diplomats in Russia. | On Saturday, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Reuters news agency that that meant Britain would have to cut "a little over 50" of its diplomats in Russia. |
| "We asked for parity," she said. | "We asked for parity," she said. |
| A UK Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "The Russian response is regrettable but in light of Russia's previous behaviour, we anticipated a response. | A UK Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "The Russian response is regrettable but in light of Russia's previous behaviour, we anticipated a response. |
| "However, this doesn't change the facts of the matter: the attempted assassination of two people on British soil, for which there is no alternative conclusion other than that the Russian state was culpable. | "However, this doesn't change the facts of the matter: the attempted assassination of two people on British soil, for which there is no alternative conclusion other than that the Russian state was culpable. |
| "Russia is in flagrant breach of international law and the Chemical Weapons Convention and actions by countries around the world have demonstrated the depth of international concern." | "Russia is in flagrant breach of international law and the Chemical Weapons Convention and actions by countries around the world have demonstrated the depth of international concern." |
| Some 150 Russian diplomats have been expelled by mainly Western countries as their governments have rallied behind Britain. | Some 150 Russian diplomats have been expelled by mainly Western countries as their governments have rallied behind Britain. |
| Russia initially hit back at the UK, but then announced 60 US expulsions. On Friday it called in a string of foreign ambassadors with news that their own countries' measures were being matched. | Russia initially hit back at the UK, but then announced 60 US expulsions. On Friday it called in a string of foreign ambassadors with news that their own countries' measures were being matched. |
| Sergei and Yulia Skripal collapsed in Salisbury, southern England, on 4 March. Mr Skripal remains in a critical but stable condition. Yulia's condition is said to be improving. | Sergei and Yulia Skripal collapsed in Salisbury, southern England, on 4 March. Mr Skripal remains in a critical but stable condition. Yulia's condition is said to be improving. |
| UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Thursday issued a warning over "a situation that is similar, to a large extent, to what we lived during the Cold War". | UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Thursday issued a warning over "a situation that is similar, to a large extent, to what we lived during the Cold War". |
| Meanwhile, in a separate development, Russia's ministry of transport has demanded an official explanation over the alleged searching of an Aeroflot passenger plane by UK officials at London's Heathrow airport on Friday. | Meanwhile, in a separate development, Russia's ministry of transport has demanded an official explanation over the alleged searching of an Aeroflot passenger plane by UK officials at London's Heathrow airport on Friday. |
| "If there is no explanation, the Russian side will deem the actions towards our plane as illegal and also reserve the right to take similar action against British airlines," it said in a statement. | "If there is no explanation, the Russian side will deem the actions towards our plane as illegal and also reserve the right to take similar action against British airlines," it said in a statement. |
| UK Security Minister Ben Wallace said in a statement that it was "routine for Border Force to search aircraft to protect the UK from organised crime and from those who attempt to bring harmful substances like drugs or firearms into the country". | |
| He added: "Once these checks were carried out the plane was allowed to carry on with its onward journey." | |
| A man identified as the plane's pilot, Vitaly Mitrofanov, has told Russian TV he refused to leave the plane and was confined to the cockpit while British officials accompanied by a sniffer dog searched it. | |
| Russia singles out UK again | Russia singles out UK again |
| By Paul Adams, BBC News, Moscow | By Paul Adams, BBC News, Moscow |
| British diplomats left Moscow a week ago, but ambassador Laurie Bristow was summoned back to the foreign ministry for additional punishment. | British diplomats left Moscow a week ago, but ambassador Laurie Bristow was summoned back to the foreign ministry for additional punishment. |
| Beyond the issue of parity, the Russian side hasn't really explained why it's made the latest demand. | |
| But it's clear that Russia sees Britain as the ringleader of an international conspiracy which resulted in the biggest mass expulsion of Russian diplomats in history. | |
| Britain's "provocative and unjustified actions", the ministry said, had "inspired the unfounded expulsion of Russian diplomats". | Britain's "provocative and unjustified actions", the ministry said, had "inspired the unfounded expulsion of Russian diplomats". |
| It's a backhanded compliment to Prime Minister Theresa May, who has successfully corralled a wider international coalition than anyone would have thought possible a month ago. | It's a backhanded compliment to Prime Minister Theresa May, who has successfully corralled a wider international coalition than anyone would have thought possible a month ago. |
| Russia has railed against the British government over its efforts to internationalise what officials here call "the so-called Skripal affair". The solidarity expressed by so many countries has been dismissed as a result of financial and political pressure, orchestrated in tandem with the US. | Russia has railed against the British government over its efforts to internationalise what officials here call "the so-called Skripal affair". The solidarity expressed by so many countries has been dismissed as a result of financial and political pressure, orchestrated in tandem with the US. |
| Which other countries are involved? | Which other countries are involved? |
| Twenty-nine countries have expelled 145 Russian officials in solidarity with the UK - and Nato has also ordered 10 Russians out of its mission in Belgium. | Twenty-nine countries have expelled 145 Russian officials in solidarity with the UK - and Nato has also ordered 10 Russians out of its mission in Belgium. |
| The US expelled the largest single number - 60 diplomats - and closed the Russian consulate general in Seattle. | The US expelled the largest single number - 60 diplomats - and closed the Russian consulate general in Seattle. |
| Russia reciprocated on Thursday declaring 58 US diplomats in Moscow and two in the city of Yekaterinburg to be "personae non gratae". It also announced the closure of the US consulate in St Petersburg. | Russia reciprocated on Thursday declaring 58 US diplomats in Moscow and two in the city of Yekaterinburg to be "personae non gratae". It also announced the closure of the US consulate in St Petersburg. |
| The US said it had been expecting the move and warned it may take further action. | The US said it had been expecting the move and warned it may take further action. |
| On Friday, ambassadors from Albania, Australia, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden and Ukraine were told to send home staff from their missions - corresponding to the same number of Russians their countries had expelled. | On Friday, ambassadors from Albania, Australia, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden and Ukraine were told to send home staff from their missions - corresponding to the same number of Russians their countries had expelled. |
| A statement by the Russian foreign ministry also said that Russia "reserves the right to take retaliatory measures" against Belgium, Hungary, Georgia and Montenegro - countries that had joined the co-ordinated action against Russia "at the last moment". | A statement by the Russian foreign ministry also said that Russia "reserves the right to take retaliatory measures" against Belgium, Hungary, Georgia and Montenegro - countries that had joined the co-ordinated action against Russia "at the last moment". |
| What is Russia's argument? | What is Russia's argument? |
| Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has blamed "harsh pressure from the United States and Britain under the pretext of the so-called Skripal case". | Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has blamed "harsh pressure from the United States and Britain under the pretext of the so-called Skripal case". |
| He reiterated Russian calls for consular access to Yulia Skripal - a Russian citizen. The UK Foreign Office says it is considering this "in line with our obligations under international and domestic law, including the rights and wishes of Yulia Skripal". | He reiterated Russian calls for consular access to Yulia Skripal - a Russian citizen. The UK Foreign Office says it is considering this "in line with our obligations under international and domestic law, including the rights and wishes of Yulia Skripal". |
| Russia, Mr Lavrov said, was also seeking a meeting with leaders of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to "establish the truth". | Russia, Mr Lavrov said, was also seeking a meeting with leaders of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to "establish the truth". |
| UK National Security Adviser Mark Sedwill has said expulsions by Western countries are aimed at rooting out covert Russian intelligence networks. | UK National Security Adviser Mark Sedwill has said expulsions by Western countries are aimed at rooting out covert Russian intelligence networks. |
| What do we know about the nerve agent? | What do we know about the nerve agent? |
| Britain says the chemical used in the attack was part of a group of nerve agents developed by the Soviet Union known as Novichok. | Britain says the chemical used in the attack was part of a group of nerve agents developed by the Soviet Union known as Novichok. |
| OPCW has sent a team to the UK to investigate samples of the agent Britain says was used. | OPCW has sent a team to the UK to investigate samples of the agent Britain says was used. |
| The results are expected to take a minimum of two weeks, the government says. | The results are expected to take a minimum of two weeks, the government says. |
| Police say the Skripals first came into contact with the nerve agent at Mr Skripal's home in Salisbury, with the highest concentration found on the front door. | Police say the Skripals first came into contact with the nerve agent at Mr Skripal's home in Salisbury, with the highest concentration found on the front door. |