Moscow doubts whether the chemical weapons convention and the OPCW could be preserved after an expansion of the organization's mandate, the Russian Foreign Ministry reports.
"A lot depends on the practical behavior of a group of countries [the UK, the US and their allies] and the organization's secretariat. But the secretariat body, unfortunately, was also swept along by our opponents," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov noted.
The diplomat admitted that he has doubts about the future prospects of the organization.
"Russia does not recognize the OPCW’s right to determine guilt in the use of chemical weapons," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said, adding that Moscow will draw serious conclusions from the vote.
According to him, the consequences of the decision adopted a day earlier "can and will be very difficult."
READ MORE: UK Proposes OPCW Begins Attributing Responsibility for Chemical Attacks in Syria
The OPCW members approved on Wednesday the UK-tabled draft motion expanding the organization's powers to attribute responsibility for chemical weapons attacks in Syria.
Russia and the OPCW differ on the issue of chemical attacks in Syria as the organization blames Syrian government troops for a number of chemical attacks in the country while Moscow insists that the accusations are groundless.