Tensions raised over poisonings
POLITICS: International tensions are once again ramping up over the two Novichok poisonings as Russia hit back at US sanctions. Meanwhile, Wiltshire Police has revealed the investigation has cost the force over £10m.
INTERNATIONAL TENSIONS are once again ramping up over the two Novichok poisonings and Wiltshire Police has revealed the investigation has cost the force over £10m.
Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson yesterday revealed the eyewatering policing costs for dealing with the incidents in Salisbury and Amesbury, a day after the USA announced it will impose sanctions on Russia over the incidents.
The force had to call on the support of other forces as it dealt with the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury in March, followed four months later by the poisoning of Charlie Rowley and his partner Dawn Sturgess, who died after she was believed to have come into contact with Novichok discarded by the Skripals’ attackers.
Mr Macpherson said: “For our force to find itself at the centre of two major incidents in such a short space of time is somewhat unimaginable, and we have endured significant costs because of the scale of the investigation. I fully expect all costs associated with these unparalleled incidents to be met by the Government.”
Russia yesterday angrily denounced the imposition of the “draconian” new US sanctions, after the administration concluded Moscow was responsible for the Salisbury nerve agent attack.
The embassy in Washington accused the Americans of running a “sanctions assembly line” following the surprise announcement by the State Department on Wednesday. The Kremlin said the US action was “absolutely unlawful” but played down the prospect of immediate tit-for-tat measures.
The move came despite controversial efforts by Donald Trump to reach out to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, at last month’s summit in Helsinki. Unusually, there was no immediate comment by the US president, who has been heavily critical of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Under US law, the administration is obliged to act once there has been a determination that chemical or biological weapons have been used.
State Department officials said the sanctions – due to come into force around August 22 – were expected to include an export ban on sensitive national security technology and goods.
They could be followed by a second more punitive round of measures if the administration is unable to certify that Russia is no longer using chemical weapons or provide “reliable assurances” that it will not do so in future. According to US reports, they could include downgrading diplomatic relations and suspending flights to the US by state airline Aeroflot.
In a statement, the Russian Embassy in Washington said: “We grew accustomed to not hearing any facts or evidence. The American side refused to answer our follow-up questions, claiming that the information is classified. However, we were told that the US has enough intel to conclude that Russia is to blame.”
It added: “We confirmed that we continue to strongly stand for an open and transparent investigation of the crime committed in Salisbury and for bringing the culprits to justice.”
The move was welcomed by Downing Street, which has consistently blamed Moscow for the Novichok attack in March.
A No 10 spokesman said: “The UK welcomes this further action by our US allies. The strong international response to the use of a chemical weapon on the streets of Salisbury sends an unequivocal message to Russia that its provocative, reckless behaviour will not go unchallenged.”
The UK welcomes this further action by our US allies. A Downing Street statement following the US decision to impose sanctions on Russia.