Russia has never blamed Czech for poisoning Skripal: ambassador

PRAGUE, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Russia has never blamed the Czech Republic for involvement in the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in Britain, Russian ambassador to the Czech Republic Alexander Zmeyevsky told a press conference at the Russian Embassy in Prague on Wednesday.

According to the ambassador, what was really mentioned by Russia previously is that the Czech Republic is able to work on the research of poisonous substances.

"We have just stated the facts," said Zmeyevsky, noting that no charges against the Czech Republic have ever been raised by Russia.

Zmeyevsky said Russia has known from open resources that Czech experts are able to work on the research of nervous paralytic agents, such as gas sarin, sobin and others, and such research resulted in the development of antibodies for the Czech Army and NATO.

"Specialists are well aware that in 2011 the Czech Republic and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) concluded an agreement which allows to produce up to 10 kilograms of these substances," he said.

Over the poisoning row between Russia and Britain, which has led to expulsions of diplomats from the both sides and many Britain's western allies, the Russian ambassador said Russia is going to suggest a "civilized solution" over the poisoning incident at Wednesday's exceptional meetings of the OPCW Executive Council in The Hague.

"We hope to establish professional cooperation. If Britain does not want to cooperate with us directly as a responsible state, then we could do so via OPCW Executive Council or an expert group of the General Director of the OPCW Technical Secretariat. In any case, we intend to invite the OPCW to cooperate to identify the facts and to ensure a fully transparent investigation and solid cooperation," he said.

Former Russian intelligence officer Skripal and his daughter were reportedly exposed to a nerve agent in the British city of Salisbury on March 4. Britain and its allies accused Russia of launching a chemical attack against them.

Although Moscow has repeatedly denied any involvement, 25 countries, including Britain and the United States, have expelled a total of more than 100 Russian diplomats, incurring tit-for-tat from Moscow.

Zmeyevsky also expressed his regret and disappointment over the Czech decision to hand over a Russian citizen Yevgenyi Nikulin to the United States, where he was charged with hacking attacks.

He said that people who decided to have handed over Nikulin are obviously guided "by their allied commitments", but not the facts of the case.

"It is sad that not all legal possibilities have been used, the loyalty had more priority over the legal obligations," said the ambassador. Enditem