The 23 Russian diplomats expelled by the UK have left London for Moscow with their families today. This move has plunged relations between Britain and Russia into their worst crisis since the Cold War.
British PM Theresa May pointed the blame at Russia for an attack on former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter on British soil and gave 23 Russians whom she described as spies working under diplomatic guise a week to leave London or face the consequences.
Denying any involvement in the attack, Russia retaliated by giving 23 British diplomats one week to leave Moscow and also closed the British Council in Moscow.
A state-owned Russian Ilyushin-96 plane, with “Rossiya” and the white, blue and red of the national flag emblazoned on the side, made a special flight from Moscow to London’s Stansted airport to pick up the diplomats who were given warm-send off by Russia’s top diplomat in London.
Ambassador Alexander Yakovenko who thanked them on behalf of President Vladimir Putin said: "We are proud of you."
Denying any involvement in the attack, Russia retaliated by giving 23 British diplomats one week to leave Moscow and also closed the British Council in Moscow.
A state-owned Russian Ilyushin-96 plane, with “Rossiya” and the white, blue and red of the national flag emblazoned on the side, made a special flight from Moscow to London’s Stansted airport to pick up the diplomats who were given warm-send off by Russia’s top diplomat in London.
Ambassador Alexander Yakovenko who thanked them on behalf of President Vladimir Putin said: "We are proud of you."
Russia says it knows nothing about the poisoning and has repeatedly asked Britain to supply a sample of the nerve agent that was used against Skripal.
The United States and European powers say they share Britain’s belief that Russia is culpable for the poisoning though they have given no indication of what they will do about it.
Source: Reuters
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