Russian Foreign Intelligence Service director Sergei Naryshkin has said that the truth in the Skripal case can be found only through a professional, joint investigation by both Russia and the UK, but that the British side has rejected all Russian offers to help and keeps destroying evidence.
"The Russian side, if you recall, immediately offered its readiness to participate and help in the investigation of this incident, this provocation. Unfortunately, the British side has not been forthcoming. Furthermore, the British side, as we see it, is constantly destroying evidence — [the Skripal's] pets, other objects. The Skripals themselves have not appeared," Naryshkin said, speaking to Russia's Channel 1 on Sunday.
Sergei and Yulia Skripal were found unconsious on a bench at a Salisbury shopping center on March 4. London almost immediately concluded that the pair were poisoned by a Russian military-grade nerve agent, and accused Moscow of staging the attack. The allegations led to a diplomatic row between the two countries which culminated the explusion of dozens of diplomats from each country and new anti-Russian sanctions by London's allies.
Russia has sent several dozen diplomatic notes to the UK calling for cooperation in the investigation of the Skripal case. London left these proposals unanswered, while accusing the Russian side of refusing to cooperate. Late last month, the Kremlin noted that British investigators have yet to share any information with the Russian side regarding the Skripal case. The Skripals themselves, said to have recovered from the poisoning attack, have not commented on the investigation since the summer, and remain hidden at an undisclosed location, according to UK authorities.