LONDON, July 29. /TASS/. The British authorities were in a hurry to find the guilty ones while investigating the Salisbury poisoning incident, a spokesperson for the Russian embassy to London said on Saturday.
When asked by journalists to comment on the interview that John Glen, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Salisbury, did with Guardian putting the blame for the incident on Russia, the diplomat answered, "It is our deep belief that a politician’s evidence-free remarks have no grounds and mislead the British nationals."
"Secrecy surrounding the probe into Salisbury and Amesbury incidents as well as the British authorities’ unwillingness to supply the international community with facts and evidence demonstrate the irresponsible stance of London that shields itself with ‘bloc solidarity’ of EU and NATO allies," he said.
"After nearly five months have passed since the Salisbury incident, it is becoming obvious that the British have made haste to name those responsible without attempting to provide any evidence of Russia’s involvement," the spokesperson said.
"The British authorities’ policy, which has jeopardized not only their reputation but the authority of European and overseas allies, does not bring us closer to finding the truth in these mysterious incidents," he said.
"We are convinced that instead of sowing fears among local population in Salisbury about an alleged use of chemical weapons there, British politicians, including lawmakers, should demand from the government that a speedy, thorough and transparent investigation into the incidents should be conducted so as not to held own citizens as captives to political myths," the diplomat said.
Amesbury and Salisbury incidents
On June 30, Dawn Sturgess, 44, and Charles Rowley, 45, were hospitalized in critical condition in the British town of Amesbury, Wiltshire County. Sturgess died in hospital on July 8, while Rowley, who had been in critical condition, was discharged from the hospital on July 20.
The Metropolitan Police claimed later that the two had been exposed to Novichok, the same nerve agent that was allegedly used in the March attack on former Russian military intelligence (GRU) Colonel Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in neighboring Salisbury.
On March 4, Sergei Skripal, 66, who had been convicted in Russia for spying for the UK but later swapped for Russian intelligence officers, and his daughter Yulia, 33, were found unconscious on a bench near the Maltings shopping center in Salisbury, England. Police said they suffered the effects of an alleged nerve agent.
Later on, London claimed that the Novichok-class toxin had been allegedly developed in Russia. The UK rushed to accuse Russia of being involved, while failing to furnish any evidence. Moscow refuted the accusations stating that neither the Soviet Union nor Russia had ever done research on that toxic chemical.
However, the UK expelled 23 Russian diplomats and announced other restrictive measures against Moscow without presenting any evidence of its involvement in the incident. In retaliation to the UK’s steps, Russia expelled 23 British diplomats, closed the British consulate general in the city of St. Petersburg, while the British Council had to shut down its operations in Russia.