- The deadline set by the UK for Russia to explain itself over the Sergei Skripal poisoning has now passed.
- Russia is refusing to respond to Britain's accusation unless it is provided with a sample of the nerve agent used.
- Britain is now expected to take retaliatory measures against Russia, and Russia may respond in kind.
- Diplomats may be expelled, and sanctions could also be on the table.
ADVERTISEMENT
TIME'S UP: The UK's deadline has passed for Russia to explain itself over spy poisoning
Britain is now expected to announce a wave of retaliatory measures.
ADVERTISEMENT
Recommended articles
The UK's deadline has now passed for Russia to explain itself over accusations it was behind the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal with a nerve agent.
The chemical weapon attack in Salisbury, England, last week has sparked one of the worst diplomatic disputes between the two countries since the end of the Cold War. Britain says it is "highly likely" that the Russian government ordered the attack, while Russia has repeatedly denied any involvement.
On Monday, Prime Minister Theresa May gave the Russian government until midnight Tuesday to formally answer questions — but the Russian Embassy in London tweeted earlier in the day that it would not respond to the "ultimatum" until it is provided samples of the Russian novichok nerve agent that UK investigators say was used.
ADVERTISEMENT
Unless the Russian government has backed down and responded privately, Britain is now expected to announce punitive actions targeting Russia on Wednesday. If that happens, Russia has said it intends to respond in kind — raising the prospect of an escalating series of damaging retaliatory measures between the two countries.
Related content
The British government seems certain to expel at least some Russian diplomats from the UK in protest, a move Russia may echo.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4, housing minister Dominic Raab has also suggested that sanctions and other financial tools are on the table: "If, as is widely feared, it turns out that there is no credible explanation for this [and] that the Russian authorities were responsible for it directly ... that opens up the whole panoply of counter measures from economic, financial, diplomatic measures," he said.
He also hinted that the government could go after the wealth of corrupt Russian officials, referring to "Magnitsky sanctions."
ADVERTISEMENT
Britain's response has also been complicated by an initially lackluster reaction from the US. While nominally Britain's closest ally, Trump's White House at first declined to endorse the UK's attribution or condemn Russia by name.
Only after a call with Theresa May did Trump say he was with the UK "all the way," in the words of the Prime Minister's spokesperson.
Another potential response from the UK is to revoke the broadcasting license of Russia's news and propaganda arm RT (Russia Today). Regulator Ofcom has said that if Skripal's poisoning is found to be an "
FOLLOW BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA
ADVERTISEMENT
Recommended articles
Congo is spending 22% of its scarce revenue on security - Minister
Another African country is set to get a Russian embassy
Medic West Africa 2024: A resounding success in fostering collaboration and innovation for a brighter healthcare future
10 African countries with the most troubling external debt in 2024
10 African countries with the least soft power influence over the world
Kenyan government rejects calls to ban TikTok, recommends tighter control over
Congo accuses Apple of conflict minerals in its supply chain
Top 10 African countries with the highest fuel prices in April 2024
