In a statement, published on its website late on October 1, the ministry noted the recent western media "propaganda" reports about Russia's alleged activities on the creation of a chemical, dubbed Novichok by the western states. Moscow noted that these claims had not been supported by any proof.
"We have to once again remind those behind the anti-Russian campaign that Russia has fully met its obligations on the destruction of all its chemical weapons stockpiles ahead of schedule, under the strict international control and in accordance with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Moreover, Russia has never created, produced or stored toxic chemicals under the ‘Novichok’ brand which is currently widespread in the West," the ministry said.
Moscow suggested that such disinformation campaigns were aimed at distracting the public attention from the facts of the creation of Novichok-type chemicals in the western countries’ laboratories, and issuing of licenses related to the military use of toxic chemicals of such kind in the United States. The ministry insisted that these claims were based on incompetent assessments.
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The incident provoked an international scandal. Moscow has said that it sent dozens of requests to London asking that it be granted access to the investigation into the poisoning incident. Moreover, Moscow has offered to work together with London and carry out a joint investigation. London did not respond to these proposals, instead claiming that Russia rejected its calls for cooperation.
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Moreover, the UK Porton Down laboratory has said it was unable to confirm that the substance used in the Salisbury attack was produced in Russia.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that the Salisbury poisoning case was falling apart due to the lack of proof of Russia’s involvement in the attack on the Skripals.
