Last week a Russian ex-spy residing in Wiltshire was attacked by a nerve agent, the nerve agent used was only manufactured ever believed to have been manufactured in three places; Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Russia. While investigations are currently ongoing Russia remains the prime suspect for the attack.
Many countries have condemned Russia for disregarding respect for borders, the UK issued Russia a deadline to claim responsibility for the attempt on the ex-spy’s life, when they didn’t respond to the allegations within the allotted timescale, Prime Minister Theresa May made the difficult decision to expel all 23 Russian diplomats from the UK. Russia has responded in kind stating that the same expulsion shall apply for the resident British diplomats in Russia. The Prime Minister outlined that she believed that the Russian diplomats residing in Britain were operating as spies for the Russian government. Meanwhile the victims Sergei Skripal, his daughter Yulia and a policeman remain in a critical condition.
An official UK government statement revealed, ‘It is an assault on UK sovereignty and any such use by a State party is a clear violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and a breach of international law. It threatens the security of us all.’
The Russian deputy foreign minister denied the source of production of the Novichok nerve agent originated from Russia or the Soviet Union. Russia also expressed that the Soviet-era production of such nerve agents were closed in 1992 and those involved in its production where relocated throughout Europe, some of whom came to the UK. Vladimir Putin has also replied to accusations asserting that if Britain are able to confirm that this is the alleged nerve agent, the UK has the resources to produce the poison themselves.
The British government are taking further steps to protect the country from Russia for the time being, these include; increased checks on private flights, customs and freight, coupled with the freezing of Russian state assets that could potentially be used against the United Kingdom, other measures include the boycott of British football teams attending the world cup, and the transport of high level transfers to the UK. The UK will also be implementing a new chemical weapons defence centre.
The nerve agent attack took place weeks before Putin’s election which concluded with him securing a land slide victory for another four-year term in office.
Although the main people affected were the Skripal’s and the police officer arriving first on-scene, there are potentially lifelong neurological side-affects, and physical considerations to those exposed to the agent.
