Russia’s top diplomat warns measures will be taken against Britain by Moscow over allegations of involvment in the poisoning of an ex-spy and his daughter, vowing his country would “hit back” if London fails to stop such accusations.
“If the British government continues taking some anti-Russian measures, we will hit back under the principle of reciprocity,” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said during a visit to Japan on Wednesday.
He urged the British government to “respond calmly” over the 4 March incident when Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia were found unconscious outside a shopping center in the town of Salisbury in southern England. The two are still in coma.
The 66-year-old allegedly sold secrets to Britain during the Soviet era and was handed to London in a 2010 spy swap.
The UK says the nerve agent Novichok had been used to poison the pair, claiming only Russia had the capability, motive and intent to be behind the attack.
Moscow vehemently denied any involvement, saying the substance could have originated from the countries studying Novichok, including the UK itself, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Sweden.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called the UK’s allegations “absurd” and “nonsense.”
On Tuesday, head of the OPCW chemical watchdog said it would take two to three weeks to complete laboratory analysis of samples taken from the poisoning.
Britain expelled 23 Russian diplomats and their families in the aftermath of the attack, prompting Russia to send back a same number of their British counterparts.
Lavrov’s warnings came after a spokesman for UK Prime Minister Theresa May said London was “actively considering” other measures.
A team of experts from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) are in the UK to collect samples of the alleged Soviet-made nerve agent.
The OPCW said Tuesday that it would take up to three weeks to complete laboratory analysis of the samples.
The issue led to the further deterioration of Moscow and the Western states.
The European Union sided with London in the case, but US President Donald Trump has stopped short of making any comments.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
