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Moscow expects more responsible approach from UK in investigating Skripals case

He also added that Russia was open for a thorough and unbiased joint investigation of the Skripals case

LONDON, June 29. /TASS/. Moscow expects a more responsible approach from the UK authorities to the investigation of the March 4 incident in Salisbury that involved the alleged poisoning of the former Russian military intelligence officer and British spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, a spokesman for the embassy said on Friday.

He said it in response to a statement by the Minister of State for Europe and the Americas, Alan Duncan, who once again accused Russia of the supposed poisoning of Sergei and Yulia to Russia.

"It was not the first time that Duncan accused Russia of all the mortal sins, making shallow and unsubstantiated claims at the same time," the spokesman said. "We find it necessary to reiterate Russia’s noninvolvement in the poisoning [of the Skripals] and it would be advisable for the UK authorities to rely on facts in their work."

"Given the seriousness of the crime, the nature of charges brought on against Russia and serious violations of international law committed by the UK, we would like to expect a more serious approach from London to this matter," the spokesman indicated.

He also added that Russia was open for a thorough and unbiased joint investigation of the Skripals case.

According to the version of events promulgated by British officials, on March 4, 2018, Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, who had come from Moscow the day before to visit him got exposed to the impact of a nerve agent.

London came up with claims somewhat later that the chemical, ostensibly belonging to the class with a tentative codename Novichok, had been developed in Russia. On the basis of the assertion, it accused Moscow of involvement in the incident.

The Russian side has strongly denied any assertions in this connection, saying programs for development of the substances of this class had never existed either in former Soviet Union before 1991 or in the Russian Federation afterwards.

Without offering any tangible evidence, the British government expelled 23 Russian diplomats from the country and declared other anti-Russian measures. Moscow responded by a proportionate reduction of the staff of the British embassy in Moscow, a closure of the Consulate General in St Petersburg and the termination of activities of the British Council in Russia.