Russia is set to expel British diplomats in retaliation for prime minister Theresa May’s decision to kick out 23 Russians over a nerve agent attack on a former spy in Salisbury last week.

Ms May blamed Moscow for the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter, and gave 23 Russians who she said were spies working under diplomatic cover at the London embassy a week to leave. Russia has denied any involvement.

Asked in the Kazakh capital Astana if Russia planned to expel British diplomats from Moscow, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov smiled and said: “We will, of course.”

Britain, the United States, Germany and France jointly called on Russia on Thursday to explain the attack. US president Donald Trump said it looked as though the Russians were behind it.

Russia has refused Britain’s demands to explain how Novichok, a nerve agent developed by the Soviet military, was used to strike down the Skripals.

Sergei Skripal, a former colonel in the Russian intelligence service who betrayed dozens of Russian agents to British intelligence, and his daughter have been critically ill since March 4th, when they were found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury. A British policeman who was also poisoned when he went to help them is in a serious but stable condition.

President Vladimir Putin, a former KGB spy who is poised to win a fourth term in an election on Sunday, has so far only said publicly that Britain should get to the bottom of what has happened.

In a sign of just how tense the relationship has become, British and Russian ministers used openly insulting language while the Russian ambassador said London was trying to divert attention from the difficulties it was having managing Britain’s exit from the European Union.

Defence secretary Gavin Williamson sparked particular outrage in Moscow with his blunt comment on Thursday that “Russia should go away, it should shut up”. Russia’s defence ministry said he was an “intellectual impotent” and Mr Lavrov said he probably lacked education.

Mr Williamson studied social science at the University of Bradford. “Well he’s a nice man, I’m told, maybe he wants to claim a place in history by making some bold statements,” Mr Lavrov said. “Theresa May’s main argument about Russia’s guilt is ‘Highly probable’, while for him it’s ‘Russia should go and shut up’. Maybe he lacks education, I don’t know.”

In London, Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn struck a starkly different tone to that of the British government by warning against rushing into a new cold war before full evidence of Moscow’s culpability was proven.

“To rush way ahead of the evidence being gathered by the police, in a fevered parliamentary atmosphere, serves neither justice nor our national security,” Mr Corbyn wrote in the Guardian.

Mr Corbyn said Labour did not support Mr Putin and that Russia should be held to account if it was behind the attack. “That does not mean we should resign ourselves to a ‘new cold war’ of escalating arms spending, proxy conflicts across the globe and a McCarthyite intolerance of dissent,” he said. – Reuters</s>LONDON – Russia will “certainly” expel British diplomats in a tit-for-tat response to Britain’s decision to send 23 Russians home over the poisoning of a former spy, Russia’s foreign minister said Thursday.

Sergey Lavrov, speaking in remarks carried by the RIA Novosti news agency, said the move would come “soon,” but added that Moscow would inform London through official channels before publicly announcing its countermeasures.

British and Russian officials traded barbs as diplomatic relations plunged to Cold War-era levels of iciness following the nerve-agent poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. Britain blames Russia for the March 4 attack, which has left the pair in critical condition and a police officer seriously ill.

U.K. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson called relations between the two countries “exceptionally chilly” and said Russia should “go away and shut up.”

Lavrov said British accusations of Moscow’s involvement are intended to distract public attention from the U.K’s troubled exit from the European Union.

He argued that “boorish and unfounded” accusations against Russia “reflect the hopeless situation the British government has found itself in when it can’t meet the obligations given to the public in connection with exit from the EU.”

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Russia targeted Skripal — a former Russian intelligence officer convicted of spying for Britain — to make it clear that those who defy the Russian state deserve to “choke on their own 30 pieces of silver.”

Johnson told the BBC there was a message in the “smug, sarcastic response” from Moscow after Britain demanded an explanation for how a nerve agent developed by the Soviet Union’s Novichok program was used on the Skripals in the English city of Salisbury. Johnson said the Russian government wants “simultaneously to deny it and yet at the same time to glory in it.”

“The reason they’ve chosen this nerve agent is to show that it’s Russia, and to show people in their agencies who might think of defecting or of supporting another way of life, of believing in an alternative set of values, that Russia will take revenge,” Johnson said.

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday expelled 23 Russian diplomats, severed high-level contacts and vowed both open and covert action following the attack.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov wouldn’t reveal how Russia will retaliate, but said the decision will come from President Vladimir Putin, “and there is no doubt that he will choose the option that best reflects Russian interests.”

“We are worried by this situation” and will work patiently to express Russia’s position on the international stage, Peskov said.

May announced the sanctions against Russia in a speech to the House of Commons after Moscow ignored a deadline to explain its links to the attack on the Skripals.

As a result of the suspension of high-level contacts with Russia, Britain cancelled an invitation for Lavrov to visit. British ministers and royals also won’t attend the World Cup soccer tournament this summer in Russia, May said.

May also said Britain would clamp down on murky Russian money and strengthen the government’s ability to impose sanctions on those who abuse human rights, though she gave few details.

Britain is also trying to build international consensus for a unified Western response, saying the attack in Salisbury is just the latest example of Russia’s disregard for international norms on the rule of law. U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron are among the world leaders who have expressed solidarity with Britain.

Macron said Thursday that “everything seems to indicate Russia’s responsibility,” and France would take measures in coming days in response to the poisoning.

Angela Charlton in Moscow and Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed</s>Danica Kirka, Jill Lawless and Vladimir Isachenkov, The Associated Press 

 



LONDON -- Russia will "certainly" expel British diplomats in a tit-for-tat response to Britain's decision to send 23 Russians home over the poisoning of a former spy, the foreign minister said Thursday.

Sergey Lavrov, speaking in remarks carried by the RIA Novosti news agency, said the move would come "soon," but added Moscow would inform London via official channels before publicly announcing its countermeasures. Lavrov said British accusations of Moscow's involvement in the poisoning are intended to distract public attention from Britain's troubled exit from the European Union.

Amid escalating tensions with the Kremlin, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Thursday that Russia targeted former spy Sergei Kripal and his daughter with a military-grade nerve agent to make it clear that those who defy the Russian state deserve to "choke on their own 30 pieces of silver."

Johnson told the BBC there was a message in the "smug, sarcastic response" from Moscow after Britain demanded an explanation for how a nerve agent developed by the Soviet Union's Novichok program was used on the Skripals in the English city of Salisbury. Johnson said the Russian government wants "simultaneously to deny it and yet at the same time to glory in it."

"The reason they've chosen this nerve agent is to show that it's Russia, and to show people in their agencies who might think of defecting or of supporting another way of life, of believing in an alternative set of values, that Russia will take revenge," Johnson said.

Relations between Britain and Russia have fallen to levels not seen since the Cold War after Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday expelled 23 diplomats, severed high-level contacts and vowed both open and covert action following the attack.

Russia said it would respond soon. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov wouldn't reveal how Russia will retaliate, but said the decision will come from President Vladimir Putin, "and there is no doubt that he will choose the option that best reflects Russian interests."

"We are worried by this situation" and will work patiently to express Russia's position on the international stage, Peskov said.

May announced the sanctions against Russia in a speech to the House of Commons after Moscow ignored a deadline to explain its links to the attack on Skripal, an ex-Russian agent convicted of spying for Britain, and his daughter, Yulia. They remain in critical condition in a hospital in Salisbury, southwestern England, after being found unconscious March 4.

As a result of the suspension of high-level contacts with Russia, Britain cancelled an invitation for Lavrov to visit the country. British ministers and royals won't attend the soccer World Cup this summer in Russia, May said.

May also said Britain would clamp down on murky Russian money and strengthen the government's ability to impose sanctions on those who abuse human rights, though she gave few details.

Britain is also trying to build international consensus for a unified Western response, saying the attack in Salisbury is just the latest example of Russia's disregard for international norms on the rule of law. U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron are among the world leaders who have expressed solidarity with Britain.

Britain has kept France closely informed of the evidence gathered by British investigators and "elements proving Russia's responsibility in the attack," Macron said.

"France's solidarity (with Britain) is unambiguous," his office said. "The president condemned the attack as unacceptable and assured May of France's full solidarity with the United Kingdom."

Angela Charlton in Moscow and Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed</s>Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Friday his country would expel British diplomats from Moscow after British Prime Minister Theresa May from the United Kingdom.

“We will, of course," Lavrov said when asked if Russia would retaliate in kind.

Russia had against the U.K. if Russian diplomats were expelled. May removed them this week after accusing Russia of carrying out a chemical attack on ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, while in Britain.

“British Government is again seeking to launch a groundless anti-Russian campaign,” Russia's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday, according to . “Needless to say, our response measures will not be long in coming."

Russia has denied any involvement in the attack against Skirpal and his daughter.

Britain, the U.S., Germany, and France all called on Russia Thursday to respond to and explain the attack.</s>Russia has threatened to throw out British diplomats in response to Prime Minister Theresa May announcing the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats yesterday.

Russian news agency RIA report that Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, has said expulsions would come "very soon, I promise you that".

Mr Lavrov has accused the UK of "fanning anti-Russian rhetoric bordering on hysteria" to win support from its allies.</s>The Russian Foreign Ministry and the Kremlin have spoken out a day after the UK prime minister announced the expulsion of Russian diplomats as a response the alleged poisoning of former intelligence officer Sergei Skripal.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview to Sputnik that Russia would "definitely" expel UK diplomats soon, adding that it would take place "soon."

"[Moscow will be ready to return to a partnership with Brussels] when our European neighbors lose interest in following the US Russophobic tendencies, including sanctions and provocations and when, of course, the interest to put up with the outrageous actions that we are seeing now on the part of the UK government, will disappear, and which go far beyond the bounds of elementary decency. We calmly respond to all these tricks by the fact that we want to talk with everyone and discuss any problems… but do it respectfully, without hysteria," Lavrov told reporters.

According to the minister, London's actions over the poisoning of Skripal were caused, particularly, by the UK inability to fulfill Brexit obligations.

"I think that this story primarily reflects the desperation of the current UK government, especially in the situation where they cannot ensure these promises they made to their population in relation to leaving the European Union," Lavrov said.

Lavrov expressed hope that Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal poisoned in the United Kingdom recovers and will be able to shed light on the situation connected with this incident.

"This is the fact that Sergei Skripal is alive and his daughter is alive. Probably if, I hope, they recover, they will also be able to shed some light on everything that has happened," Lavrov said in a statement published by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

At the same time, the minister noted that "no one wants to wait for this" as part of the investigation of the incident, and that everything had already been decided in the investigation into Moscow's alleged involvement in the poisoning of Skripal.

'Great Bewilderment' — Kremlin on UK Response to Skripal Alleged Poisoning

Commenting on the issue, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said that UK accusations against Russia in relations to the Skripal poisoning case have all signs of provocation, adding that Moscow was puzzled over the UK's stance on the poisoning of Skripal.

"Russia perceives the position taken up by UK authorities with great bewilderment and incomprehension… The accusations are groundless. Moreover, these accusations were voiced before any information about the substance used emerged, which shows the presence of all signs of a provocation against Russia," Peskov told reporters.

According to the spokesman, the UK position is irresponsible, "from the point of view of the violation of international law by the UK side."

"Therefore, we, of course, are concerned by this situation but we will explain our position to the international community patiently and consistently — Russia has nothing to do with the incident which occurred with Skripal in Salisbury," he added.

According to the spokesman, the Russian president will choose the measures which meet the country’s interests.

UK Not Providing Russia With Materials on Skripal Case

At the same time, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has slammed the allegations made by UK Prime Minister Theresa May against Russia over the Skripal poisoning case as "insane."

The UK is refusing to cooperate with Russia on the Skripal case, though this is stipulated by a relevant convention, Zakharova said, adding that Moscow has sent London four diplomatic notes to hold talks on the issue but has received only formal replies.

"I would like to inform you that several diplomatic notes have been sent to the Foreign Office via the Russian Embassy in the United Kingdom. They sought to launch an active dialogue with officials in London… We've received meaningless formal replies," Zakharova said, adding that a total of four notes had been sent.

Speaking further, Zakharova reiterated Moscow's call on London to provide access to the documents related to the "incident." The official noted that so far the UK has refused to provide any sufficient information on the issue, including samples of the nerve agent.

According to the official, the West seeks to link Skripal's poisoning to the issue of chemical weapons use in Syria.

“After all, what kind of logic was voiced yesterday and what logic is articulated by the so-called expert community? Damascus uses chemical weapons, Russia supports it. The final point in this is that Russia, Moscow, used chemicals in the United Kingdom … This is one of the tracks of this campaign — to link all these elements and to finish the story about chemical weapons in Syria, no one conceals it,” Zakharova told a briefing.

According to the spokeswoman, the recent developments are “a part of a well-thought-out plan.”

The Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman said that the UK had been "pushing" Russian diplomats out of the country via visa mechanisms for several years.

"At a certain point, we have understood that all these developments are intentional and are not of a random nature. The utmost has been done to create obstacles for the activities of the Russian embassy in the United Kingdom's staff," Zakharova said at a briefing speaking about the so-called visa war waged by London by refusing to issue or prolong visas for Russian diplomats or by protracting this process.

The diplomat added that the Russian Foreign Ministry had taken a number of steps to settle the issue by bilateral channels and called for "unblocking of this situation."

"Of course, we have commented on the situation, but we have done it in a very correct manner. If London has decided to make the steps, known by everyone now, then it is true — during a number of years, the Russian diplomats had been literally driven out [of the United Kingdom] and the official UK authorities have created obstacles, including by visa mechanisms," the spokeswoman said.

Thus, Moscow has no doubt that London has launched an anti-Russian campaign, Zakharova said, adding that Britain's attitude showed that the "Russophobic hysteria had reached a new level."

"The head of a state with nuclear weapons groundlessly accuses another country of aggression… and puts forward an ultimatum with a 24-hour deadline… This is reminiscent of a talk show," the spokeswoman noted.

UK Accuses Russia of Alleged 'Attack' on Skripal

The statement comes a day after UK Prime Minister Theresa May announced the largest expulsion of Russian diplomats from the UK since the Cold War over the alleged "attack" on a former Russian intelligence officer, Sergei Skripal.

Commenting on the issue, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that it regarded the punitive measures as a gross provocation that undermined the foundations of normal interstate dialogue between the two countries and reiterated the denial of Moscow's involvement in the alleged poisoning.

In a statement made on Thursday, the UK foreign secretary publicly stated that London had refused to send samples of the substance allegedly used to poison Skripal. He claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin allegedly wanted to tell people thinking of defecting from Russia "you do that, you're going to die."

Johnson said he was "struck by the smug sarcasm with which the Russians were denying the attack," adding that it was "obvious," Russia had illegally hung on to stocks of Soviet chemical weapons.

Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found slumped unconscious on a bench in Salisbury after being exposed to what British experts have identified as a Russian-made nerve agent.

Russian officials have rejected London's claims that Moscow was in any way involved in the incident. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has stressed that Russia was ready to cooperate on the investigation but needed to have access to the case materials, including samples of the substance in question.</s>George Galloway has dismissed claims that Russia is “culpable” for the Skripal poisoning, saying it wouldn’t put a “signature” on such a crime. Moscow is preparing to expel British diplomats in retaliation for UK sanctions.

Speaking to RT’s Bill Dod, the former Labour MP hit back at Prime Minister Theresa May’s allegations that Russia was behind the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. His comments follow demands by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn that the PM present evidence and use channels provided by international law before assigning blame to Moscow.

“Here is the killer question that was not asked by anybody in parliament either on Monday or Wednesday,” Galloway said. “If this Novichok is exclusively Russian, why would Russia choose that weapon to mount a terrorist attack on the streets of Salisbury? They may as well be leaving a pair of boots covered with snow and painting ‘Vladimir Putin was here’ on the nearest wall.

"It's absolutely absurd that Russia would actually put its signature on a crime like this if they had carried it out," he added.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia will expel British diplomats shortly. The measure is a response to May’s sanctions against Russia over its alleged involvement in the poisoning of former Russian double agent Skripal. A total of 23 Russian diplomats will be expelled from the UK, among other punitive measures.

Galloway compared May’s assertions to misleading intelligence reports that were created in the lead-up to the Iraq war. Faulty intelligence garnered by the US and UK claimed that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The claim was used to justify the invasion.

“I have an absolute conviction that this is exactly the same kind of canard that led us to the disaster of the Iraq war,” Galloway said, before adding that “in any list of suspects, Russia must be near the bottom because, self-evidently, it has not and cannot benefit from this crime in any way.”

On Russia’s refusal to respond to the deadline set by May for it to give its account of the Skripal poisoning, Galloway said: “The reality is Russia has every right to be offended here. It is my view that the language of ultimatums and ‘you have 36 hours to say you’re guilty or kind of guilty’... was deliberately designed to fail. Russia was set up to fail this test that Theresa May set it.

“Just like Iraq and the WMD, this verdict has already been reached before this investigation ever began,” he said.

When Dod asked Galloway about Ofcom’s intention to revoke RT’s license, he said it would make a “mockery of British protestations of freedom of speech and it will probably be illegal under British, EU and international law, so I hope they will not be so foolish to do that. There will never be another British journalist working in Russia, that’s for sure. People should think about that very carefully,” he warned.

If you like this story, share it with a friend!</s>MOSCOW (Reuters) - Britain’s ambassador in Moscow, Laurie Bristow, met Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov at the Russian foreign ministry in Moscow, a spokesman for the embassy said on Tuesday.

Earlier, Russian news agencies said the foreign ministry had summoned Bristow amid tensions over the nerve agent poisoning of Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal in Britain.

The foreign ministry’s press office told Reuters it had no additional comment.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has said it is “highly likely” that Moscow was behind the poisoning of Skripal in the English city of Salisbury. Russia has dismissed these allegations as a “circus show” and part of a political campaign against Moscow.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday, in response to May’s claims, the British government had refused to provide Moscow access to materials related to the poison attack on Skripal and his daughter.</s>LONDON — Russia will "certainly" expel British diplomats in a tit-for-tat response to Britain's decision to send 23 Russians home over the poisoning of a former spy, Russia's foreign minister said Thursday.

Sergey Lavrov, speaking in remarks carried by the RIA Novosti news agency, said the move would come "soon," but added that Moscow would inform London through official channels before publicly announcing its countermeasures.

British and Russian officials traded barbs as diplomatic relations plunged to Cold War-era levels of iciness following the nerve-agent poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. Britain blames Russia for the March 4 attack, which has left the pair in critical condition and a police officer seriously ill.

U.K. Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson called relations between the two countries "exceptionally chilly" and said Russia should "go away and shut up."

Lavrov said British accusations of Moscow's involvement are intended to distract public attention from the U.K's troubled exit from the European Union.

He argued that "boorish and unfounded" accusations against Russia "reflect the hopeless situation the British government has found itself in when it can't meet the obligations given to the public in connection with exit from the EU."

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Russia targeted Skripal — a former Russian intelligence officer convicted of spying for Britain — to make it clear that those who defy the Russian state deserve to "choke on their own 30 pieces of silver."

Johnson told the BBC there was a message in the "smug, sarcastic response" from Moscow after Britain demanded an explanation for how a nerve agent developed by the Soviet Union's Novichok program was used on the Skripals in the English city of Salisbury. Johnson said the Russian government wants "simultaneously to deny it and yet at the same time to glory in it."

"The reason they've chosen this nerve agent is to show that it's Russia, and to show people in their agencies who might think of defecting or of supporting another way of life, of believing in an alternative set of values, that Russia will take revenge," Johnson said.

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday expelled 23 Russian diplomats, severed high-level contacts and vowed both open and covert action following the attack.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov wouldn't reveal how Russia will retaliate, but said the decision will come from President Vladimir Putin, "and there is no doubt that he will choose the option that best reflects Russian interests."

"We are worried by this situation" and will work patiently to express Russia's position on the international stage, Peskov said.

May announced the sanctions against Russia in a speech to the House of Commons after Moscow ignored a deadline to explain its links to the attack on the Skripals.

As a result of the suspension of high-level contacts with Russia, Britain canceled an invitation for Lavrov to visit. British ministers and royals also won't attend the World Cup soccer tournament this summer in Russia, May said.

May also said Britain would clamp down on murky Russian money and strengthen the government's ability to impose sanctions on those who abuse human rights, though she gave few details.

Britain is also trying to build international consensus for a unified Western response, saying the attack in Salisbury is just the latest example of Russia's disregard for international norms on the rule of law. U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron are among the world leaders who have expressed solidarity with Britain.

Macron said Thursday that "everything seems to indicate Russia's responsibility," and France would take measures in coming days in response to the poisoning.</s>RUSSIAN foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has called on the United Kingdom to comply with its own commitments on international law instead of asking Russia to respond to allegations that it was involved in the poisoning of a former spy.

British Prime Minister Theresa May earlier demanded Russia to provide an explanation over the poisoning of Sergey Skripal and his daughter in British soil.

“We have heard the ultimatum from London. I can only add that Great Britain, as well as Russia, are part of the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and the Prime Minister and the Secretary for Foreign Affairs are well aware of this,” Lavrov said.

He noted that under the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, in cases of suspected use of a banned toxic substance, the country affected should immediately address the country suspected to have produced that particular poisonous substance.

Lavrov said Russia sent an official note seeking access to the substance so that its experts could analyze it in accordance with the international treaty.

“We are waiting for the United Kingdom to respond to our request, sent in accordance with this same Convention, to provide the substance in question, and to make the whole investigation open to us because it involves a Russian national,” he said. “We have nothing to do with it.”

Meanwhile, the foreign ministry of Russia summoned the UK Ambassador to Russia Laurence Bristow to protest the baseless accusation that Moscow was involved in the poisoning.

First Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov insisted that the action of UK authorities was a clear provocation.

Titov told Bristow that Moscow has no intention of responding to the ultimatum until it receives the samples of the chemical substance that was allegedly used in the poisoning.

“Without that, there can be no sense in any statement from London. The incident appears to be yet another crooked attempt by the UK authorities to discredit Russia,” Titov said in a press statement.

“Any threat to take punitive measures against Russia will meet with a response. The British side should be aware of that,” he added.
Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov says Russia will "definitely" expel British diplomats.