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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Russian spy: Embassy requests meeting with Boris Johnson | Russian spy: Embassy requests meeting with Boris Johnson |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Russian Embassy in London has requested a meeting between its ambassador and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson over the Salisbury poisoning. | The Russian Embassy in London has requested a meeting between its ambassador and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson over the Salisbury poisoning. |
| An embassy spokesperson said it was "high time" for a meeting to discuss the investigation, as well as a "whole range of bilateral issues". | An embassy spokesperson said it was "high time" for a meeting to discuss the investigation, as well as a "whole range of bilateral issues". |
| Current interaction between the Russian Embassy and the Foreign Office was "utterly unsatisfactory", they said. | |
| The Foreign Office said it was Russia's response that had been unsatisfactory. | |
| A Foreign Office statement confirmed it had received the meeting request and said: "It's over three weeks since we asked Russia to engage constructively and answer a number of questions relating to the attempted assassinations of Mr Skripal and his daughter. | |
| "Now, after failing in their attempts in the UN and international chemical weapons watchdog this week and with the victims' condition improving, they seem to be pursuing a different diversionary tactic." | |
| Sergei and Yulia Skripal were poisoned with a toxic nerve agent called Novichok in Salisbury more than a month ago. | Sergei and Yulia Skripal were poisoned with a toxic nerve agent called Novichok in Salisbury more than a month ago. |
| The UK government claims Russia is behind the attack but Moscow has denied all involvement. | The UK government claims Russia is behind the attack but Moscow has denied all involvement. |
| In a statement sent to the BBC an embassy spokesman said: "We believe that it is high time to arrange a meeting between Ambassador Alexander Yakovenko and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson." | In a statement sent to the BBC an embassy spokesman said: "We believe that it is high time to arrange a meeting between Ambassador Alexander Yakovenko and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson." |
| It added that the ambassador had already sent a note to the foreign secretary, and it hoped "the British side will engage constructively and that such meeting is arranged shortly". | It added that the ambassador had already sent a note to the foreign secretary, and it hoped "the British side will engage constructively and that such meeting is arranged shortly". |
| The Foreign Office said it would respond to the meeting request in due course. | |
| The request follows criticism from the Russian Embassy after the British government's refusal to grant a visa to Ms Skripal's cousin, Viktoria Skripal, to visit the UK. | The request follows criticism from the Russian Embassy after the British government's refusal to grant a visa to Ms Skripal's cousin, Viktoria Skripal, to visit the UK. |
| On Friday the Home Office said the application did not comply with immigration rules. | On Friday the Home Office said the application did not comply with immigration rules. |
| But the Russian Embassy said Sergei and Yulia "remain hidden from the public". | But the Russian Embassy said Sergei and Yulia "remain hidden from the public". |
| "The stubborn refusal to cooperate, to provide transparency and to answer the numerous questions means Britain has something to hide," an embassy spokesman said. | "The stubborn refusal to cooperate, to provide transparency and to answer the numerous questions means Britain has something to hide," an embassy spokesman said. |
| Viktoria Skripal later told the BBC she did not have enough money in her bank account to satisfy the visa requirements. | Viktoria Skripal later told the BBC she did not have enough money in her bank account to satisfy the visa requirements. |
| Mr Skripal was jailed by Russia for spying for Britain's intelligence service, but released as part of a spy swap between the US and Russia in 2010. | Mr Skripal was jailed by Russia for spying for Britain's intelligence service, but released as part of a spy swap between the US and Russia in 2010. |
| His daughter Yulia was visiting him in the UK when the attack happened on 4 March. | His daughter Yulia was visiting him in the UK when the attack happened on 4 March. |
| Salisbury District Hospital has said Mr Skripal, is responding well to treatment and "improving rapidly". | Salisbury District Hospital has said Mr Skripal, is responding well to treatment and "improving rapidly". |
| His daughter Yulia is conscious and talking in hospital. | His daughter Yulia is conscious and talking in hospital. |
| A diplomatic crisis between Russia and the West has followed, with more than 20 countries expelling Russian envoys in solidarity with the UK. | A diplomatic crisis between Russia and the West has followed, with more than 20 countries expelling Russian envoys in solidarity with the UK. |
| Russia's request for a new, joint investigation was voted down at the international chemical weapons watchdog at The Hague on 4 April. | |
| Two days later, at a UN Security Council meeting, Moscow's UN ambassador Vasily Nebenzia said Britain's main goal had been "to discredit and even delegitimise" Russia with "unsubstantiated accusations". | |
| But Britain's UN representative Karen Pierce said the UK's actions "stand up to any scrutiny". |