Theresa May announces retaliation against Russia after spy and his daughter were poisoned in England. 23 Russian Diplomats asked to leave Britian
UK Prime Minister Theresa May has announced a series of measures to
be taken against Russia after a former double agent and his daughter
were poisoned in the UK.
Sergie Skripal, who is a former Russian intelligence officer, and his
daughter Yulia, who was visiting him from Moscow, were poisoned by
Novichok, a Russian nerve agent on March 4, 2018 in Salisbury, England.
The United Kingdom believes that the Russian government was behind
the attack but Russia insisted it had no motive in the attempted murder
of Sergei Skripal and his daughter.
Sergie Skripal and Yulia Skripal
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After Russia failed to meet Theresa May's midnight deadline to
explain how a nerve agent was used to poison Skripal in the UK, the
Prime Minister made a statement to the House of Commons this afternoon
listing the measures to be taken against Russia.
May started her statement paying tribute to the emergency services
and the work they have done in Salisbury. She says Russia was
responsible for attempted murder, and the attack on Skripal was an
"unlawful use of state force."
The 61-year-old politician says 23 Russian diplomats in the UK will
be expelled in one week as a result. The diplomats to be expelled have
been identified as undeclared intelligence officers. This will be the
largest expulsion for 30 years.
To protect the UK from hostile state activity, May says the UK
government will draw up legislation. She says the government will
consider new anti-espionage legislation. She added that the government
will increase checks on Russians coming into the country. The Prime
Minister says there is "no place" for the corrupt elites in the United
Kingdom.
With regards to diplomatic relations, May says high-level contacts
with Russia will be canceled. She announced that the invitation to
Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, to visit the UK has been
withdrawn and UK ministers and dignitaries will not be attending the
World Cup taking place in Russia.
May said the UK wanted a better relationship with Russia but it's
tragic that President Putin has acted in the way he did. She mentioned
that she has spoken to allies who are backing the UK.
Other measures may be taken but they will not be publicised, May says.
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