MOSCOW, March 24. /TASS/. British envoys have been scampering around the world, demanding that other countries follow their suit in relation to the poisoning of former Russian military intelligence (GRU) Colonel Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters.
"The British have been scampering around the world, demanding their partners follow suit," he said, commenting on media reports about some EU member states contemplating the possibility of recalling their diplomats from Russia in the wake of the Salisbury incident. "It is necessary to follow the example of those who stand for dialogue and who constitute the majority," Lavrov added.
The leaders of EU countries earlier decided to recall EU ambassador to Russia Markus Ederer for consultations. A source told TASS on the sidelines of the EU summit that some member states were considering the possibility of either recalling their diplomats from Russia or expelling Russian diplomats.
Skripal case
On March 4, Sergei Skripal, who had been convicted in Russia of spying for Great Britain and exchanged for Russian intelligence officers, and his daughter Yulia suffered the effects of a nerve agent in the British city of Salisbury.
London expelled 23 Russian diplomats and announced other restrictive measures against Moscow. Russia expelled 23 British diplomats, the UK consulate general in the city of St. Petersburg was closed and the British Council had to shut down its operations in Russia. At the same time, Moscow pointed out that further measures could be taken "should there be any more hostile actions against Russia.".