Russia tries to laugh off poison attack claims
The Russian government rejected accusations that it was behind the Novichok poison attack in typically dismisssive style.
Two hours before the Prime Minister’s statement to parliament, the ministry of foreign affairs posted a tweet asking followers to “choose your dance style in international relationship”, with a video of Theresa May’s awkward dance moves alongside a more energetic Russian performance.
Moscow has repeatedly denied claims that Russia was behind the attempted assassination in March. President Putin’s foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, told reporters in Moscow that the names of the suspects “do not mean anything to me”.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called on the UK to “move from public allegations and information manipulation to practical co-operation via law enforcement”.
Russia’s ambassador to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons also insisted Moscow had nothing to do with the poisoning.
Russian state TV dismissed the evidence against the pair of suspects as “flimsy”, with one host comparing it with Stalin’s Russia: “It isn’t 1937.”
The hostility is likely spill over at the United Nations today, with Britain calling for a meeting of the Securitycouncil–whererussiais also a permanent member.