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Moscow finds London's answers on Skripal case just don’t add up

The mission is currently considering "possible options for further steps"

© Pierre Crom/Getty Images

THE HAGUE, April 24. /TASS/. The UK has failed to provide answers to the most important questions on the Skripal case, the Russian Permanent Mission to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) informed TASS on Tuesday.

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"The materials we have received from the British side do not suit us," the mission stressed. "We will certainly need some time for a more detailed analysis. The first impression is that the British have not given answers to the most important questions that we asked."

The mission is currently considering "possible options for further steps." "Anyway, we will seek substantial answers on the aspects which are vital for us," it stressed.

On April 13, Russia handed over to Britain a list of questions concerning the Salisbury poisoning in accordance with Article 9 of the Chemical Weapons Convention." The answers to these questions were due to be received by April 23. The Russian permanent mission earlier confirmed that they had been received within the established deadline, namely, on Monday evening.

UK Permanent Representative to the OPCW Peter Wilson earlier said the answers would be sent to Russia and all of the organization’s member-countries. However, it is still unclear whether that has been done.

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Russia asks London to confirm sharing Skripal case info with individuals

On March 4, former Russian military intelligence Colonel Sergei Skripal, 66, who had been convicted in Russia of spying for Great Britain and was later swapped for Russian intelligence officers, and his daughter Yulia, 33, were found unconscious on a bench near the Maltings shopping center in Salisbury, the UK. Police said they had been exposed to a nerve agent.

London immediately accused Russia of being involved, but failed to produce any evidence. British Prime Minister Theresa May rushed to blame Russia for "unlawful use of force" against her country. She identified the alleged substance used in the attack as the so-called Novichok nerve agent, allegedly developed in the former Soviet Union. Russia has flatly rejected these allegations pointing out that neither the Soviet Union nor Russia had any programs to develop that substance.

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Skripal poisoning case

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