Lavrov confirms intention to expel British diplomats from Russia

Russia will expel British diplomats in response to the announcement made by the UK on expelling 23 Russian diplomats in connection with the case of former GRU colonel Sergei Skripal, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced on March 16.

The minister did not cite certain number of diplomats to be expelled but said Russia would “certainly” do this.

The Russian embassy in the UK sent several diplomatic notes to the UK Foreign Office aimed at starting an active dialog with the official London on the situation with the use of chemical weapons in the British territory. As spokesperson for the Russian foreign ministry Maria Zakharova said, the notes were calling for starting joint work, sharing materials and all possible information.

Zakharova stated that Great Britain refuses to interact with the Russian side and fulfil its obligations as a member of the Chemical Weapons Convention. She said London is unwilling to provide any practical information on the case.