Spy poisoning: Russian Embassy requests meeting with Johnson

IANS  |  London 

The in London on Saturday requested a meeting between its and Johnson over the

A said it was "high time" for a meeting to discuss the investigation as well as a "whole range of bilateral issues", the reported.

Current interaction between the and the was "utterly unsatisfactory", the said. However, the said it was Russia's response that had been "unsatisfactory".

Britain had blamed for the nerve agent attack on former Russian double agent and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury on March 4. But denied it.

A statement confirmed it had received the meeting request and said: "It's over three weeks since we asked to engage constructively and answer a number of questions relating to the attempted assassinations of Skripal and his daughter.

"Now, after failing in their attempts in the UN and international this week and with the victims' condition improving, they seem to be pursuing a different diversionary tactic," it said.

On the other hand, a was quoted by TASS as saying: "We believe that it is high time to arrange a meeting between and Johnson."

It added that the had already sent a note to the and it hoped "the British side will come up with a constructive response and such a meeting will be organized in the near future".

The said it would respond to the meeting request in due course.

The request followed criticism from the after the British government's refusal to grant a visa to Yulia Skripal's cousin to visit the UK.

On Friday, the said the application did not comply with immigration rules. But the said Sergei and Yulia "remain hidden from the public".

has said was responding well to treatment and "improving rapidly" while his daughter was conscious and talking in hospital.

So far, more than 20 countries have expelled Russian envoys in solidarity with the UK over the crisis. Russia's request for a new joint investigation was voted down at the international at on April 4.

Two days later, at a meeting, Moscow's UN said Britain's main goal had been "to discredit and even delegitimise" with "unsubstantiated accusations".

But Britain's UN said the UK's actions "stand up to any scrutiny".

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Sat, April 07 2018. 21:06 IST