EU condemns attack on Sergei, exhorts Russia to disclose nerve agent use

Brussels [Belgium], Mar 19 (ANI): The European Union (EU) on Monday strongly condemned the poisonous attack on ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal while stating that it takes the UK assessment of Moscow's possible involvement in it "extremely seriously."

The Union members further said the EU "expresses its unqualified solidarity with the United Kingdom and its efforts to bring those responsible for this crime to justice", as reported by the Sputnik News Agency.

The bloc also expressed shock over the offensive use of Novichok, a military-grade nerve agent for the first time in over 70 years in Europe and urged Moscow to disclose information on the nerve agent to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

Further the European Union said the incident violated the Chemical Weapons Convention, breaching the international law and undermines the rules-based international order.

Earlier in the day, EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini said the European Union stand in full solidarity with the United Kingdom.

Earlier on March 16 Russian Ambassador Alexander Shulgin called the allegations of a chemical attack levied by the Russian authorities as 'unfounded' and 'absolutely unacceptable'.

British Prime Minister Theresa May on 14 March issued a statement to "punish" Russia under its false pretext to allegedly involve the UK in the case of poisoning Sergey Skripal and his daughter. She also May blamed the incident on Moscow, claiming that the substance allegedly used in the attack was developed in Russia.

Retired military intelligence officer Skripal, 66, and his daughter, Yulia, 33, were found slumped on a bench in Salisbury city center on March 4. (ANI)