BEVERLY HILLS, March 14, (THEWILL) – Britain has expelled 23 Russian diplomats in response to a nerve agent attack on a Russian former double agent in southern England, Prime Minister Theresa May said on Wednesday, adding it was the biggest single expulsion in over 30 years.
May told British parliament that Britain would also freeze Russian state assets wherever there was evidence of a threat and downgrade its attendance at the soccer World Cup this summer.
Former spy Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, were found unconscious on a bench in the city of Salisbury on March 4 and remain in hospital in a critical condition.
May has said the pair was attacked with Novichok, a Soviet-era military-grade nerve agent.
She had asked Moscow to explain whether it was responsible for the attack or had lost control of stocks of the highly dangerous substance.
Russia has denied any involvement, and May told parliament Moscow had provided no credible explanation for the attack.
“There is no alternative conclusion, other than that the Russian state was culpable for the attempted murder of Skripal and his daughter, and for threatening the lives of other British citizens in Salisbury,” she said.
“This represents an unlawful use of force by the Russian state against the UK.
“We will freeze Russian state assets wherever we have the evidence that they may be used to threaten the life or property of UK nationals or residents.”
May also said British royals and government ministers will not attend the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
“There will be no attendance by ministers — or indeed members of the royal family — at this summer’s World Cup in Russia,” May told lawmakers.
Russia however, said Britain should expect retaliation for its actions.
