Russia to expel 23 British diplomats in 'tit-for-tat' battle over poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal

Fiona Simpson17 March 2018

Russia has expelled 23 British diplomats as the UK’s ambassador was summoned to Moscow for talks over the poisoning of a former spy.

The retaliatory move comes after Theresa May earlier ordered 23 Russian diplomats to be expelled over the March 4 poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury.

The Russian foreign ministry, in a statement quoted by news agency AFP, said the British diplomatic staff would be "expelled within a week".

Speaking in Moscow, British Ambassador Laurie Bristow today said: "Russia today has informed me of steps that Russia will be taking."

The ambassador did not reveal what steps Moscow had taken.

Vladimir Putin has denied claims he is responsible for the shooting 
EPA

He said the UK would "always do what is necessary to defend ourselves, our allies and our values against an attack of this sort".

Former UK ambassador to Russia Sir Roderic Lyne warned against a tit-for-tat battle after Moscow expelled 23 British diplomats in a retaliatory move in the spy poisoning stand-off.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I don't think it would be sensible to get dragged down into a mud-wrestling battle with a gorilla.

"We shouldn't put ourselves on the same level as the aggressor. We shouldn't allow Russia to turn this into a bilateral battle and have the Kremlin play it into the narrative of a hostile West, a hostile Britain out to attack Russia."

The move comes after British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of personally ordering the poisoning.

Mr Putin's spokesman denounced the claim.

Theresa May visited Salisbury on Thursday
PA

Mr Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia remain in a critical condition in hospital after being found slumped on bench in the Wiltshire city on March 4.

The pair had previously visited the Mill pub and dined at a Zizzi restaurant before they were discovered unconscious by police after reportedly being attacked by nerve agent.

They were thought to be poisoned by a deadly nerve agent called Novichok.

Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey who was also injured in the attack after rushing to help the victims is no longer in a critical condition NHS England has said.

Russian spy 'poisoning': Sergei and Yulia Skripal are fighting for life in hospital
PA

Less than 10 days later a prominent Kremlin critic Nikolay Glushkov was found dead at his London home.

The Russian exile died from "compression to the neck", a special post-mortem investigation found.

The 68-year-old was discovered dead at his home in Clarence Avenue, New Malden, south-west London, on Monday.

Police initially treated the death as unexplained, but launched a murder probe after the results of the post-mortem investigation, which began on Thursday.

Military personnel wearing protective coveralls carry out their work in Salisbury
AFP

The Metropolitan Police said it was not linking the two incidents, saying there was no evidence Mr Glushkov was poisoned, and reassured neighbours there were "no wider public health concerns" in relation to the investigation.

The Met's counter-terrorism command will continue to head up the probe "because of the associations Mr Glushkov is believed to have had", it said.

Neighbours spoke of their shock following the news his death was being treated as murder.

British Ambassador to Russia Laurie Bristow in Moscow
REUTERS

Kate Fitzsimmons, who lives opposite Mr Glushkov, said she had never spoken with him but he would wave at her from across the road.

Asked if he seemed friendly, the 87-year-old said: "I thought so. I thought he was just an ordinary friendly Englishman really. I didn't know he was Russian."

Nikolay Glushkov was found dead at his London home
AP

She said it was "very sad" that a murder investigation had been launched, adding: "Well there's nothing one can do about it is there, really?"

Ms Fitzsimmons said it was a "great big shock" when she returned to her home early on Tuesday morning to all the police activity.

She said: "I'm a nurse, I don't get shocked easily, but it did sort of shock me, and I was at a meeting at the church until half past ten two nights ago and they walked me home, which was kind of them."

Russian Spy Sergei Skripal: Salisbury Nerve Agent Incident

1/14

On Friday three police officers stood in front of blue and purple tents erected on the front drive of Mr Glushkov's home.

The property remains sealed off behind a police cordoned, as do several adjoining homes on either side.

Hours before the Met announced the murder probe, the Investigative Committee of Russia said it had opened criminal cases over the attempted murder of Yulia Skripal and the murder of Mr Glushkov.

The committee said it would investigate in "accordance with the requirements of Russian law and international law".

Mr Glushkov was a retired financial director who had lived at his address for two years, Scotland Yard said on Friday.

Neighbour Patricia Egan described him as a "lovely fellow" who was intelligent, very well-mannered, very generous and friendly.

He was outspoken after the death of his close friend Boris Berezovsky - another enemy of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Mr Berezovsky was a friend of murdered spy Alexander Litvinenko and a thorn in the side of the Russian regime.

He was found hanged in the bathroom of his Berkshire home in 2013. An inquest recorded an open verdict.

Mr Glushkov told the Guardian in 2013 he would "never believe" he took his own life.

Police and MI5 are to look into allegations that a string of deaths on UK soil may be linked to Russia, including the Berezovsky case.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in

MORE ABOUT