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Updated at 1.20pm
RUSSIA’S EXPULSION OF 23 British diplomats “doesn’t change the facts of the matter” of the poisoning of a former double agent in an English city, Prime Minister Theresa May has said.
Russia was “in flagrant breach of international law,” she told her Conservative Party’s spring forum, adding that Britain “will consider our next steps in the coming days”.
“Russia’s response 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,” she said.
May blames Russia for the nerve agent attack on former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the English city of Salisbury on 4 March, which has left them both fighting for their lives.
She warned that Britain “will never tolerate a threat to the life of British citizens and others on British soil from the Russian government”.
But she said Britain had “no disagreement with the Russian people”.
Earlier this week, Britain announced the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats and suspension of high-level contacts over the poisoning.
Moscow responded today by expelling 23 British diplomats from Moscow in a tit-for-tat measure.
“Twenty three diplomatic staff at the British embassy in Moscow are declared persona non grata and to be expelled within a week,” the foreign ministry said in a statement after summoning the British ambassador Laurie Bristow.
It would also halt activities of the British Council across the country, it said.
“Due to the unregulated status of the British Council in Russia, its activity is halted,” the foreign ministry said in a statement referring to Britain’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities.
It also said it would halt the activities of the British Council, the country’s international organisation for cultural relations, in Russia.
“We are profoundly disappointed at this development,” the British Council said in a statement.
It is our view that when political or diplomatic relations become difficult, cultural relations and educational opportunities are vital to maintain on-going dialogue between people and institutions.
Britain said it had “anticipated a response of this kind” and that its National Security Council would meet early next week to consider its “next steps”.
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated rapidly in the 10 days since ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were attacked with a nerve agent in Salisbury, south-west England.
May said earlier this week that Russia was “culpable” for the attack, either directly or because Moscow had “lost control” of the nerve agent.
On Wednesday Britain said it would “suspend all high-level bilateral contact” with Russia, and expel 23 Russian diplomats, suspected of being spies, out of the UK.
No British royals or ministers will attend the World Cup in Russia, May told the House of Commons.
The US, France and Germany have all supported the UK’s decision to take action against the first use of a nerve agent in Europe since the Second World War.
- with reporting from Gráinne Ní Aodha
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This is real cold war stuff. May’s accusation without proof was premature. No evidence yet of Russian involvement. Perhaps the two people attacked had internal enemies. No one definitively knows yet.
@saoirse janneau: I think she got it right for once. It was Russian agent and she said they either used it or they lost control of it. Hardly the latter if it was used to kill a former spy.
@saoirse janneau: https://mobile.twitter.com/deadlyvices/status/974033609639321600
Read this.
@saoirse janneau: I don’t know.. the circumstances of his sons death is mysterious too.
Let’s face it the Russians love poisoning each other.
I really don’t think Britain should pander to Russia. For once I think she has done the right thing.
@saoirse janneau: There is obviously loads of evidence. Enough to convince the UK government to act and for France, Germany and the US to support them. The evidence in the public domain is pretty convincing also.
@saoirse janneau: The evidence is very conclusive that the nerve agent used was Novichock. This is a nerve agent with Russian origins, however that doesn’t necessarily mean that Russia is responsible. It’s chemical composition is widely known and so, there is nothing to stop any nation with the general capability to synthesize nerve agents from creating it. If you wanted to stir up tensions between the UK and Russia, this would be the way to go. So you might have a point. There’s a bullet, but so far no smoking gun.
@CrabaRev: All four countries you mention had their noses rubbed in it by russia in syria. don’t tell me this has nothing to do with it.
@Paraic McDonagh: You’re not allowed to post common sense here. Now we know that Porton Down cannot identify Russia as a source for Novichock, a name never used in Russia. The wholesale grab of Russian scientists after the fall of the Soviet Union was on a parallel with operation paperclip after ww2. Its estimated that 16 countries would have scientists capable of developing variants of the nerve agent. This is hopefully going to be a defining moment in the history of control of information and hence the minds of populations.
@Patrick J. O’Rourke: Strange the Russia denies ever producing or having Novichock. Yet the Russian scientist who made it for the Russians in the 80′s and now living in exile in the US says different.
Hmm who to believe, Putin’s Mafia State or the man who actually made the stuff for the Russians.
@Paraic McDonagh:
The guy who developed it is on record as saying that the only country with the capability to produce it is Russia. Reverse engineering of nerve agents is apparently not that straightforward.
@saoirse janneau: I am wondering why all week the britsvwere convinced and had un deniable proof that Putin personally authorized the attack. Based on what’s coming out of Britain today, it sounds like the Brits have strong suspicion rather than strong proof. I called it on day 2 of the story that the Brits couldn’t even get this simple story right. Honestly, what hope do they have for managing Brexit properly and not screw the North of Ireland up.
@Paraic McDonagh: This type of chemical has its own signature. Its from a batch that the Russians had in storage.
@Mick Jordan: Yeah..
because of thousands different ways you can kill a man, Russians decided to choose the only one that would link to them..
f.. o..
@saoirse janneau: crap!!! You would only be a fool to think otherwise Kremlin to blame Putin order it
@Vladimir Kalugin: Anyone can shoot you, stab you strangle you or club you to death. Who but a State (in this case Russia) has the ability to kill you with one of the world’s most dangerous Nerve Agents. And that is a powerful message. “No matter where you go, no matter how long it takes we will get you. We never forget nor do we ever forgive”.
@Mick Jordan: L..O..L…
@Mick Jordan: we are talking about intelligence agency, not pissed off ex..
@Honeybadger197: you keep posting that link. It doesn’t prove anything.
At this point, no on beyond the British, French, German and US Governments is aware of the evidence. Anything else is hearsay.
@Vladimir Kalugin:”we are talking about intelligence agency, not pissed off ex”..
My Point exactly. Well done, there is hope for you yet. Now the next step for is to say it was a Russian Intelligence Agency.
@Mick Jordan: unfortunately, there is no hope for you..
@Vladimir Kalugin: Becoming a Putinista? No that will never happen.
@Mick Jordan: Why are you wasting your time with the Putin trolls and tinfoil enthusiasts? Even if Putin himself admitted he ordered Skripal killed, they’d still deny it, that’s how removed from reality they are.
@Larissa Caroline Nikolaus: One cat let them have full control of the narrative. “The truth shall out”.
@Mick Jordan: A newspaper report in the Telegraph says that the nerve agent was brought into the country from Russia in the daughters suitcase. Seems more likely than someone in the UK trying to bump them off.
@saoirse janneau: Judging from the amount of upvotes, either the Journal’s regular readership are all closeted Putin fanboys, or the Putinbots have upped the intensity of their spamming. Experience would suggest the latter.
@Chris Kirk: So if the nerve Agent was put inside her suit case it would have done at the Airport in Moscow when the suitcase was no longer in her possession. And who in Russia would have access to military grade Nerve Agent and the legal authority to interfere with a passengers bags while they were Airside? The FSB spring to mind immediately.
@saoirse janneau:
Nor will anyone know for sure.
What we do know for sure is that Novichok was used and somehow this russian chemical weapon found its way into a pub in Salisbury.
Hopefully the Russian’s bide their time and then deny entry to England’s star football players when they attempt to enter for the World Cup. Harry Kane et al left stranded would be a powerful image to send out globally.
@Damien Duke: Yes, blocking a football team would reverberate around the world.
@Honeybadger197: the English people would care much more than the expulsion of some nameless diplomats.
@Damien Duke: And the rest of the globe that isn’t English?
@Honeybadger197: not sure if you missed the article above but it is about issues between the Russians and the English…you know where the traitor just got killed.
@Damien Duke: Not sure if you recall saying it would be a powerful message to send out globally?
@Damien Duke: Your letting your identity slip. When you talk about “Where the traitor just got killed”. I don’t believe the Russian dissident murdered in London was accused of treason. But then Vlad and his Mafia see all dissidents as traitors to Russia and him.
@Damien Duke: That is a ridiculous comment.
@neilo: I would love to know if they have bot farm like in Homeland or are they allowed to work from home. Must be cushy gig if so. I also would like to know do they have like an Irish division or do the bots work on may countries media sites at once. So many questions
@Damien Duke: Harry kane is irish.
@Dr Rex Butts: Seek and ye shall find.
https://www.pri.org/stories/2015-01-13/five-corrupt-moves-helped-make-putin-most-powerful-man-russia
@Dr Rex Butts: https://www.pri.org/stories/2018-03-16/mole-among-trolls-inside-russias-online-propaganda-machine
Ha . This is quality . Ordering my Putin t shirt as we speak
@Eugene Walsh: What quality is there in using deadly toxins that leaves people critically ill and fighting for their lives?
Warped.
@Ó Connmhaigh: those guilty of treason deserve the death penalty. It is the ultimate betrayal.
@Ó Connmhaigh: the picture is so much larger than that one event …
@Eugene Walsh: I think @Ó Connmhaigh is about 12 years old.
@Damien Duke: Right out of Vlad’s mouth.
@Damien Duke:
Do their families deserve it too?
@Walt Jabsco: It a North Korean idea Vlad seems to have adopted. Get everyone related to the main target as well. The Mexican Drug Cartels have picked it up too. Criminals think alike.
@Mick Jordan: yeah, so glad the Brits only target single targets and not whole family or neighbourhoods in Iraq, Syria, Libya or Yemen.
Their attitude is that if you can take out a whole family with one strike then do it.
@Damien Duke: A tad harsh there, Damien.
@Cal Mooney: The West doesn’t intentionally go after other family or relations. That’s the difference.
@Eugene Walsh: before you rush to the shops think of the four hundred innocent people who were shot to pieces in the aircraft over Ukraine. Anybody who would even in jest show support for a megalomaniac like Putin is a warped soul
@Mick Jordan: really? Supplying or using bombs to wipe out entire buildings with people living in them.. You call that unintentional collateral damage. I call it state sponsored wholesale murder.
@Cal Mooney: Did you forget about the Beslan Siege or the Moscow Theater Siege? So if you want to talk about collateral damage!!!
@Mick Jordan: I’m guessing he ‘forgot’ about Syria too. Probably for the best – I imagine he wouldn’t want another reminder of chemical warfare in the 21st century.
@Eugene Walsh:
What is quality about using the most powerful nerve agent that Russia ever developed in a public place?
You are truly twisted.
@Damien Duke:
And the young girl, the police officers, and those other first responders who came to assist?
You think exposure to a nerve agent is good?
The British political establishment is in an advanced state of decay. The Brexit steamroller pushes on regardless. The media skewing rapidly to the right.
And with this Salisbury issue May, and Labour Imperialists, sidestep the agreed treaty on chemical agents. Engaging in bombast, lies and anything but the ‘facts’.
@PV Nevin: “Labour Imperialists” not exactly how I would describe Corbyn and his front bench. How far Left are you?
@PV Nevin: And as for the Chemical Weapons Treaty. No where in it does it say one country has to provide another samples. What does that samples from the complaint must be sent to the OPCW who will contact the accused country and give the 10 day to reply to the results of their Independent Testing.
Why do the media still spin the line he was a Russian spy. He was caught spying for the British. The outrage from the British government is comical concerning their history of their colonial past. Remember when Blair went to war over Weapons of Mass Destruction that never existed
.Old Chinese saying.. Be careful what you wish for.
@Donal Desmond: Would it be that he was no longer in the Game and that he was a British Citizen?
@Mick Jordan: Spying for a foreign country would make him a traitor. I’m sure if the British government at the time could have taken out Donald McLean, and Guy Burgess they would still be bragging about it.
@Donal Desmond: I am sure they would have, but I doubt the would have used a WMD to do it not once but twice!!!! And endanger the public.
@Mick Jordan: Endangering the public has never been high in any governments agenda, be it any of the so called super powers. Do you not think it ironic that the mess of U.k. leaving Europe has disappeared from the media. All this saga between England and Russia over an alleged attack that has not caused a death, now takes center stage. Games being played.. very dangerous games.
@Donal Desmond: Not on Russia’s agenda anyway. Stalin killed 50 Million of his own citizens. Brexit has another year to run. Will this story last that long?
@Donal Desmond:
This chemical weapon did and obviously does exist.
“Flagrant breach of international law”..
Well the British should know. They attacked Libya (illegally) and Syria (illegally). And don’t forget Iraq (illegally).
And Europe is paying for that breach in the form of Mass Immigration.
Shocking news – who could have predicted that??
@Walt Jabsco: Q predicted this
Putin is one of the most corrupt leaders ever. He will soon change the laws to make him president for life. Because if he doesn’t he will be killed when he leaves office by his own people. He made millions with money stolen buy his cronies & have a look at the house he is building under a false name. Cost 1.5 billion
@John Maye:
You know nothing about Putin except what Fake News RTE tells you.
@Joseph Rooney: Are you a close friend of his? If not what do you know about him apart from what RT has told you.
“The Novichok Story Is Indeed Another Iraqi WMD Scam” -
Whatever happened to spies killing each other? Since when is there International condemnation of spies killing each other. The CIA and Mi5 have spies. They do kill people as well. This Russian guy gave Mi5 Uk Intelligence a list of Russian spies. This is a serious and dangerous game. Either the Russian Govt could have had him killed or any one of the many people he betrayed could have had him killed. There are no friends in the spy game.
@gregory: The problem is not spies killing each other (which rarely happens btw) it when one side starts using WMD’s on the general public.
Wonder will there be any next step from the UK
@Dr Rex Butts: Britain has already said it’s expelling 23 Russian diplomats so this is just an exact tit for tat response by Russia .
@Dr Rex Butts: Leave the EU………haha
@Dr Rex Butts: the Russians.have also demanded the closure of the British propaganda council in Russia, as well as stopping the opening if an embassy office in st Petersburg. In other words, while the Russians are only expelling the same number of spies the Brits did, the other measures must surely hurt the Brits pride somewhat.
@Catherine Sims: The uk will do sweet F all. Now that Brexit is here Britain will be looking to Russia for trade at some stage. They have not got the stomach for a lengthy dispute it will be put on the back burner
One million deaths in Iraq didn’t change the “facts” on weapons of mass distraction either.
What facts??? Ukraine or the Saudis could have done it or MI6 as they have gallons of the same nerve agent themselves?
@Alois Irlmaier: Neither had a motive. Russia have.
have your say