Former UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson's calls for dialogue with the Saudi authorities after the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul showcase double standards of London's foreign policy, the press officer of the Russian Embassy to the United Kingdom told reporters on Monday.
LONDON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 22nd October, 2018) Former UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson's calls for dialogue with the Saudi authorities after the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul showcase double standards of London's foreign policy, the press officer of the Russian Embassy to the United Kingdom told reporters on Monday.
In his weekly column for the UK newspaper The Daily Telegraph, Johnson claimed that the Saudi authorities had copied "the playbook of [Russian President] Vladimir Putin, and the attempted killing of Sergei and Yulia Skripal," qualifying both attacks as� "state-sponsored plots to execute opponents on foreign soil," while he also called on Saudi Arabia and Turkey to provide more evidence related to the matter.
"To hear calls for a dialogue and presentation of evidence from Boris Johnson is interesting. It is worth remembering that it was him who, while being Foreign Secretary, advocated a hard line towards Russia after the Salisbury incident, which included a refusal to present any evidence or to cooperate at any official level, and increased sanctions on the basis of political declarations only. The statements of the former Foreign Secretary highlight the double standards of the UK foreign policy in the best way possible," the press officer said, as quoted in the embassy's press release.
The press officer slammed the United Kingdom for failing to provide sufficient information on the Skripal case.
"More than 7 months have passed since the Salisbury incident, but it is still unclear what really happened there, where and in what conditions the affected Russian citizens currently are, and what evidence forms the basis of public accusations against Russia and certain Russian nationals. The investigation has been classified by the British authorities. Domestic and international public have to consume leaks and speculations which are impossible to verify. To date, the Tory government has not answered a single serious question raised by Russia," he said.
Khashoggi, The Washington Post newspaper columnist known for his criticism of Saudi policies, was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2. On October 19, Saudi Arabia, which has initially denied any involvement, admitted that the journalist had been killed in a fight inside the consulate.
In March, Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned in the UK city of Salisbury. The United Kingdom and its allies have accused Moscow of having orchestrated the attack with what UK experts claimed was the A234 nerve agent, which the Russian authorities have strongly rejected.
