The Russian government is publicly excoriating the British government for failing to provide the location of Sergei and Yulia Skripal, two Russian nationals the Putin regime tried to assassinate in Salisbury, England in 2018.
Russian agents allegedly used the toxin Novichok to poison the father and daughter, Russian dissidents who are harshly critical of Putin and his cronies. Three other people, including a police officer, were also poisoned after incidental contact with the nerve agent, which was developed by the Soviets and which is not known to exist outside of Russia. One British citizen died.
“The Embassy has not yet received any clear official information on the whereabouts and health condition of Sergei and Yulia Skripal,” reads a statement by the Russian embassy in the UK. “Just like the public, we have only seen ‘information leaks’ in the media asserting that these people ‘are alive and in a safe place’. It is of common knowledge that failure to provide information on the two Russian nationals is a clear violation of the UK’s obligations implied in relevant international and bilateral agreements. We also consider it a disregard for universally recognized norms of diplomatic relations. Our request to provide comprehensive information on the case as well as consular access to Sergei and Yulia Skripal remains in effect.”