MOSCOW, July 12. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the statements about the Amesbury incident made by British Secretary of State for Defense Gavin Williamson as brazen. Williamson blamed Russia for the death of a resident of the city of Amesbury, Dawn Sturgess, who was allegedly poisoned with her partner Charlie Rowley by Novichok - the same nerve agent that was mentioned in the Skripals case.
On July 8, Scotland Yard reported the death of Sturgess, after which the British defense minister stated that Russia conducted an attack on the territory of Great Britain which lead to the death of a British national.
"We consider as unacceptable statements made by some politicians and journalists, who cynically used the tragic death of a woman to promote their own interests," the diplomat stressed, naming Williamson - who already became "notorious for his provocation and brazen remarks," she said - as an example.
- Foreign Ministry: BBC deliberately distorts Russia's comment on Salisbury suspects
- Moscow urges London to quit stoking provocations over Salisbury, Amesbury incidents
- Lack of transparency in Amesbury probe will not benefit UK — Russian embassy
- OPCW has no mandate for independent investigation into Amesbury incident — Russian embassy
"Of course, we are glad that the British secretary of state for defense made at least some sort of statement; this is progress already. The question is how can a political figure make statements on the incident the investigation into which has not ended yet? Still, the secretary of state for defense is already speaking about its result," Zakharova noted. She also pointed out that the British side neither presented any official versions of the Amesbury incident, nor named any suspects.
On June 30, Sturgess, 44, and her partner Rowley, 45, were taken to a hospital in the city of Amesbury in critical condition. On the evening of July 8, Scotland Yard reported that Sturgess had died, and the investigators launched a murder case. Rowley regained consciousness on July 10. The London police anti-terrorism department earlier stated that Sturgess and Rowley had come into contact with Novichok - the same nerve agent that had poisoned former Colonel of the Main Intelligence Directorate Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. London also pinned all the blame on Moscow. Russia repeatedly refuted all accusations of its involvement in this incident.