UK ‘poisoned spy to distract from Brexit’

RUSSIAN DIPLOMAT MOCKS CLAIM

RUSSIA’S foreign minister accused Britain and the US of spreading “lies and disinformation” about the poisoning of a Russian ex-spy in Salisbury, declaring that EastWest tensions are worse now than during the Cold War.

Britain has blamed Russia for the March 4 nerve agent attack on former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia.

Britain and two dozen of its allies have since expelled more than 150 Russian diplomats. Moscow, which vehemently denies any involvement, has responded tit-for-tat.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denounced the British accusations as a “mad and horrible provocation”. He argued that Russia had no motive to attack Mr Skripal, who was released in a 2010 spy swap from a Russian prison where he was serving time for spying for Britain.

“If there were any gripes against the man, he wouldn’t have been swapped,” Mr Lavrov said.

Russia’s top diplomat also mocked Britain’s claim that there was no plausible alternative explanation for the poisonings.

British intelligence agencies could have been involved and the case helped distract public attention from the British government’s difficult talks to exit the European Union, Mr Lavrov said.

British officials have previously rejected similar Russian allegations.