Moscow:

London Is Either Unable to Protect from Attack or Staged Sergei Skripal Attack

TEHRAN (defapress)- The Russian Foreign Ministry and Russian Defense Ministry jointly delivered a statement after a meeting with foreign envoys amid the scandal surrounding the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal.

News ID: 69326

Date: 22 March 2018 - 13:25

"Either the British authorities are unable to protect from a terrorist attack on their territory or staged the attack themselves," according to Vladimir Ermakov, head of the Nonproliferation & Arms Control department at the Russian Defense Ministry, Sputnik reported.

"Russia owes nothing and can bear no responsibility for the actions or lack of actions on British soil," Ermakov added.

Moscow is surprised that UK authorities deny consular access to Skripal's daughter Yulia, in violation of international norms, Ermakov stressed.

He also said that Moscow believes the statements by Paris about solidarity with London in the assessment of attack on Skripal are ridiculous as France does not possess any concrete data on the case.

The attack on the Skripals is a "gross folly", which is not beneficial to Russia, he stated.

"Two Russian citizens were attacked on the territory of Great Britain. We ask to give us all the information about this, we believe, terrorist act against Russian citizens on the territory of Great Britain. But we don't get anything," Eermakov said at a briefing on Skripal case for foreign diplomats in Moscow, adding that "Moscow's list of questions for London regarding the Skripal case is growing."

Russia isn't satisfied by the UK's answers about the Skripal case and the British have left the most important questions unanswered.

"If the subject of the investigation has not been determined reliably, and all facts are being intentionally hidden, and real evidence may have already disappeared, which has happened in the United Kingdom many times, then it is not clear what issue the UK side has," Ermakov told a briefing.

"We took one more step forward. We suggested that the British conduct a joint investigation to identify the perpetrators of the Salisbury incident. For this, naturally, we requested access to all the case materials being investigated by Scotland Yard. Without this, it is simply impossible to get a clear picture of what is really happening," Ermakov stressed.

Earlier, the OPCW confirmed that Russia had preliminarily destroyed all chemical weapons in its arsenal, the official stressed, adding that "The West is ready to use any means it can to discredit Russia, incidents in Khan Sheikhoun show that."

The UK's closest ally is the only state having the biggest chemical weapons' arsenal in the world, he stressed.

Russia is interested in seeing that there are no questions between Moscow and the West regarding Skripal; from the British side there is no such approach, Ermakov said, adding that Russia is "shocked by statements made by UK politicians."

London wants explanations whether Russia produced a substance dubbed "Novichok", according to a British Embassy representative.

For his part, the Russian Foreign Ministry official emphasized that Moscow had repeatedly asked for a joint probe into the Skripal case and for access to the relevant materials, including the poisonous substance.

"In conclusion I would like to stress that we are closely following the developments of the Skripal case… I am sure that in time, the culprits and participants of this provocation will be punished… I would like to additionally stress that Russia does not accuse anyone of anything," Ermakov told a briefing.

As Russia has not produced any unrepresented chemical substances under the OPCW convention, there are no such reserves in Russia.

Russia did not accuse Sweden of anything in the case of poisoning of Skripal in the United Kingdom, Ermakov said Wednesday.

"Esteemed representative of Sweden, thank you very much. If you saw any accusations against Sweden in the statement of our Spokesperson's statement, then I am ready to apologise to you because there were definitely no accusations against Sweden from our side," Ermakov stressed.

Russia gave the Czech Republic evidence proving statements on the country's capability to develop poisonous substances.

When asked by the deputy Slovak Ambassador to Moscow about the statement made by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, the Ministry official stated that "Slovakia was mentioned as a [former] part Czechoslovakia."

The Russian Defense Ministry has also commented on allegations of Damascus' use of chemical weapons.

"It seems that Britain is afraid to conduct an unbiased investigation," into the Skripal case, the Defense Ministry representative added.

The UK has presented no proof that the gas allegedly used to poison Skripal was made in Russia, he stated.

The United Kingdom first synthesized the VX nerve agent in 1962, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

The formula of the substance dubbed "Novichok" was published by scientist Mirzayanov, who is working for the US government, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

The Ministry suggested that Mirzayanov, under US influence, could have written the formula of the poisonous substance in his book, allegedly used to poison Skripal.

"It is a gross violation of the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons," Russian official said.

According to the Ministry, Britain "was and is one of the states that have been implementing a program on the development of new chemical weapons since 1970s."

He added that the Porton Down lab in Britain is used to conduct experiments, involving the use of chemical weapons.

The patent for the British-developed toxic substance was later sold to the US, the Russian Defense Ministry representative stressed, adding that Russia has questions about the UK sending about 50mln pounds to the Porton Down laboratory and whether they are trying to destroy Novichok there.

Zakharova said that all foreign ambassadors to Russia had been invited to attend a meeting on Wednesday. While EU ambassadors, except Britain, have agreed to attend the meeting, the US envoy hasn't taken part in the talks.

Earlier, UK Prime Minister Theresa May said that it was "highly likely" that Russia was responsible for the Salisbury incident.

Russian diplomats had to leave the UK on Tuesday, as May announced a batch of anti-Russia measures in wake of the poisoning of ex-Russian intelligence officer, which was blamed on Moscow.

The Russian Foreign Ministry denied all the allegations and requested the UK to allow a joint investigation into the case.