Russia tries to pin blame for spy nerve agent attack on the WEST, claiming poison was ‘most likely’ produced in Britain, Europe or US
RUSSIA has appeared to blame the West over the Salisbury nerve agent attack, saying the substance could have come from Britain, Sweden or even the US.
The Kremlin has continually denied that it had anything to do with the Salisbury poisoning that left an ex-KGB spy and his daughter fighting for their life - now seemingly trying to pin the origins of the substance used in the attack on other countries.
But the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden has been the first to hit back against the claims, with Margot Wallstrom saying: "Forcefully reject unacceptable and unfounded allegation by Russian MFA spokesperson that nerve agent used in Salisbury might originate in Sweden. Russia should answer UK questions instead."
In another report released today bys, a TV network funded by the Russian government, it was suggested that the nerve agent may have come from a country where Russian chemists were taken after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Alexander Shulgin, Russia’s permanent representative at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, said there had never been a scientific program in Russia researching the nerve agent.
He told the news outlet: "We know the exact countries where such work continued, achieving certain success.
"Therefore, we can assume that the source of the substance used [against Skripal] in Salisbury is concealed in one of the countries where this research continued."
It comes as relations between the UK and Russia have continued to become increasingly frosty in the wake of the poisoning.
Russia today ordered 23 British diplomats to leave Russia, with Theresa May likewise hitting back.
Speaking at the Conservative Party's spring forum, she added: "We can be reassured by the strong support we have received from our friends and allies around the world."
The tensions threaten to overshadow Putin's expected re-election Sunday for another six-year presidential term.
Meanwhile new tensions have surfaced over the death this week of a London-based Russian businessman, Nikolai Glushkov.
Brit cops said Friday that he died from compression to the neck and opened a murder investigation.
Russia also says it suspects foul play in Glushkov's death and opened its own inquiry Friday.
Novichok - the Russian for newcomer or newbie - is the name for a series of nerve agents developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 80s.
They are said to be the deadliest nerve agents ever created and reported to be five times more potent than the notorious VX gas.