World leaders support UK's claims of poisoning against Russia

London [UK], Sep 06 (ANI): In a joint statement released on Thursday, the leaders of Canada, France, Germany and the United States supported the claims made by the United Kingdom that two suspected accused involved in the poisoning of the former Russian spy and his daughter were Russian military intelligence officers and that the Russian government "almost certainly" approved the attack.
"We have full confidence in the British assessment that the two suspects were officers from the Russian military intelligence service, also known as the GRU, and that this operation was almost certainly approved at a senior government level," said the leaders in the statement.
Urging Russia to disclose Novichok programme, the leaders said, " We, the leaders of France, Germany, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, reiterate our outrage at the use of a chemical nerve agent, known as Novichok, in Salisbury on March 4."
The UK Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday in the UK parliament addressed the Salisbury attack and said that only Russia had the motive to carry out the attack as well as the technical means and operational experience.
She referred to the chemical attack as "despicable and sickening", which killed one woman and has left four others fighting for their lives.
The poisoning of the Russian spy led to a diplomatic crisis between the two countries.
Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia Skripal, were poisoned with the military-grade nerve agent Novichok.
May further revealed that the police investigation has enabled the Crown Prosecution Services (CPS) to bring charges against the two suspects, so the security and intelligence agencies have carried out the investigations into the group behind this attack.
The prosecutors have also procured a European Arrest Warrant and the police are seeking to circulate Interpol Red Notices. However, Russian law does not allow the extradition of the nationals from their own country.
Meanwhile, Russia has refuted the claims made by the UK. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, "A link with Russia is being alleged. The names published in the media, like the photos, do not tell us anything."(ANI)