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Chemical weapons watchdog meets to discuss Russian spy poisoning Russia must cooperate with chemical weapons watchdog, says EU
(35 minutes later)
The world’s chemical weapons watchdog is holding an emergency session behind closed doors in The Hague, as Britain’s chemical weapons experts try to persuade their international colleagues that they have followed the right procedures over the Salisbury spy poisoning. Russia must cooperate with the global chemical weapons watchdog’s investigation into the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Salisbury, the European Union has said during an emergency session with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
“It is imperative that the Russian Federation responds to the British government’s legitimate questions, begins to cooperate with the OPCW secretariat, and provides full and complete disclosure to the OPCW,” it said.
Wednesday’s meeting was called by Russia, which wants to challenge the way British scientists handled samples of the nerve agent and the perceived secrecy of the OPCW’s procedures.
Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, were attacked with a nerve agent on 4 March, setting off a bitter dispute between Russia and the UK government, which has said the only “plausible explanation” is that Russia is to blame.
On Tuesday, the chief executive of the government’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), Gary Aitkenhead, said British scientists had identified the nerve agent used as novichok but were not able to identify the precise source.On Tuesday, the chief executive of the government’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), Gary Aitkenhead, said British scientists had identified the nerve agent used as novichok but were not able to identify the precise source.
Wednesday’s meeting of the Organisation for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons was called by Russia, which wants to challenge the way British scientists handled samples of the nerve agent and the perceived secrecy of the OPCW’s procedures. Russia has warned it will not accept any international scientific findings on the poison administered to Skripal if its own experts are not allowed to be involved in testing the samples of the nerve agent. On Wednesday Russia’s spymaster, Sergei Naryshkin, described the poisoning as a “grotesque provocation rudely staged by the British and US intelligence agencies”.
Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, were attacked with the nerve agent on 4 March, setting off a bitter dispute between Russia and the UK government, which has said the only “plausible explanation” is that Russia is to blame. A Russian proposal for a joint UK-Russian investigation into the incident was dismissed by the British delegation to the OPCW as a “a diversionary tactic, and yet more disinformation designed to evade the questions the Russians authorities must answer”.
UK officials, thrown on the defensive by the way Aitkenhead’s statement appeared on Tuesday, said it was not just science but UK intelligence sources that led the government to ascribe responsibility to Russia. UK officials, thrown on the defensive by the way Aitkenhead’s statement appeared, said it was not just science but UK intelligence sources that led the government to ascribe responsibility to Russia.
The shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott, pointed out that the foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, had gone further in an interview with the German broadcaster Deutsche Welle in which he said UK government scientists had told him personally that they were absolutely categorical that Russia was responsible.The shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott, pointed out that the foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, had gone further in an interview with the German broadcaster Deutsche Welle in which he said UK government scientists had told him personally that they were absolutely categorical that Russia was responsible.
Abbott said she hoped Labour would get some credit for taking a careful view of Russia’s responsibility, pointing out that Theresa May had been more cautious than Johnson.Abbott said she hoped Labour would get some credit for taking a careful view of Russia’s responsibility, pointing out that Theresa May had been more cautious than Johnson.
Russia has warned it will not accept any international scientific findings on the poison administered to Skripal if its own experts are not allowed to be involved in testing the samples of the nerve agent. On Wednesday Russia’s spymaster, Sergei Naryshkin, described the poisoning as a “grotesque provocation rudely staged by the British and US intelligence agencies”.
The OPCW is the internationally recognised body responsible for overseeing the 1997 chemical weapons convention, and has been testing samples provided by British scientists and taken from the bodies of the Skripals.The OPCW is the internationally recognised body responsible for overseeing the 1997 chemical weapons convention, and has been testing samples provided by British scientists and taken from the bodies of the Skripals.
Britain sent the OPCW samples of the nerve agent within days of the attack, and results of the organisation’s tests are expected within days. Alexander Shulgin, Russia’s permanent representative to the OPCW, has complained that Russian scientists have been barred from being involved in the tests after British objections.Britain sent the OPCW samples of the nerve agent within days of the attack, and results of the organisation’s tests are expected within days. Alexander Shulgin, Russia’s permanent representative to the OPCW, has complained that Russian scientists have been barred from being involved in the tests after British objections.
The OPCW is not able to ascribe responsibility for the attack, but identification of the nerve agent as novichok by the OPCW, the premier relevant multilateral body, would shore up the UK’s position – backed by an international diplomatic alliance – that Russian state forces were involved in the attack. Russia insists it destroyed its entire chemical weapons stock.The OPCW is not able to ascribe responsibility for the attack, but identification of the nerve agent as novichok by the OPCW, the premier relevant multilateral body, would shore up the UK’s position – backed by an international diplomatic alliance – that Russian state forces were involved in the attack. Russia insists it destroyed its entire chemical weapons stock.
In letters sent to the OPCW on Sunday, Russia posed a series of questions intended to raise doubts about the OPCW’s procedures, asking for the names of the organisation’s scientists sent to the UK, how they verified the chain of custody of the sample, the legal basis for France in assisting the UK in the testing and how the OPCW can be sure UK scientists did not provide false samples.In letters sent to the OPCW on Sunday, Russia posed a series of questions intended to raise doubts about the OPCW’s procedures, asking for the names of the organisation’s scientists sent to the UK, how they verified the chain of custody of the sample, the legal basis for France in assisting the UK in the testing and how the OPCW can be sure UK scientists did not provide false samples.
If the dispute over the nature of the Salisbury nerve agent reaches deadlock, Russia could withdraw from the OPCW, which would be a severe blow to global efforts to control chemical weapons.If the dispute over the nature of the Salisbury nerve agent reaches deadlock, Russia could withdraw from the OPCW, which would be a severe blow to global efforts to control chemical weapons.
Russia has already challenged OPCW findings about Syrian government responsibility for chemical weapons attacks on Syrian civilians.Russia has already challenged OPCW findings about Syrian government responsibility for chemical weapons attacks on Syrian civilians.
Despite the political battle, the eventual OPCW report on the samples will be largely technical in nature, confirming the agent used and possibly establishing what method of synthesis had been used, how the material was administered or disseminated, and what kind of chemical signatures are involved.Despite the political battle, the eventual OPCW report on the samples will be largely technical in nature, confirming the agent used and possibly establishing what method of synthesis had been used, how the material was administered or disseminated, and what kind of chemical signatures are involved.
Apart from the attack on the OPCW process, Russia is also keeping up the pressure on the UK to provide consular access to Yulia Skripal now that she is recovering in a Salisbury hospital.Apart from the attack on the OPCW process, Russia is also keeping up the pressure on the UK to provide consular access to Yulia Skripal now that she is recovering in a Salisbury hospital.
Reports from Russia claim her cousin Victoria has contacted British and Russian authorities to be given authority to go to the UK to be by her bedside.Reports from Russia claim her cousin Victoria has contacted British and Russian authorities to be given authority to go to the UK to be by her bedside.
The Russian embassy in London claims the UK is in breach of article 36 of the Vienna convention by refusing Russia consular access to a Russian national. The UK has said the views of the national must be taken into account.The Russian embassy in London claims the UK is in breach of article 36 of the Vienna convention by refusing Russia consular access to a Russian national. The UK has said the views of the national must be taken into account.
Sergei SkripalSergei Skripal
Chemical weapons
RussiaRussia
EuropeEurope
European Union
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