Moscow on Wednesday said Britain either failed to protect former spy Sergei Skripal, a Russian national, from what it termed a “terrorist attack” or was itself behind the poisoning.
“The British authorities are either unable to ensure protection from such a... terrorist attack on its territory, or they directly or indirectly — I am not accusing anyone of anything here — directed the attack on a Russian national,” said Vladimir Yermakov, head of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s non-proliferation and arms control department.
Mr. Yermakov made the statement to representatives of foreign diplomatic missions during a briefing held to explain Russia’s view on the poisoning. Mr. Yermakov also criticised Britain’s “Russophobia”.
Later on Wednesday, U.K.’s Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson accused Moscow of trying to kill Mr. Skripal to whip up public opinion ahead of elections.
Asked why Moscow would feel it could carry out such an attack, he said: “It was a sign that President (Vladimir) Putin, or the Russian state, wanted to give to potential defectors in their own agencies...”
