UK bans 7 Russian intelligence agents for navy poisoning

by William James

LONDON, Aug 20 (Reuters) – Britain on Friday sanctioned seven people responsible for poisoning Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, a Russian intelligence agent.

It also issued a joint statement with the United States warning Russia about chemical weapons. He did not highlight any specific new actions taken by Washington, but again condemned what he described as an assassination attempt on Navalny.

Navalny was taken to Germany for medical treatment after being poisoned in Siberia on August 20 last year, with Western experts concluding it was a military nerve agent.

Moscow has dismissed its findings and accused the West of a smear campaign against it.

An updated version of the British sanctions list released by the government on the first anniversary of the novelty poisoning includes seven new names. The restrictions above will affect those who have assets abroad and their ability to travel will be limited.

“The persons sanctioned are directly responsible for planning or carrying out the attack against Mr. Navalny,” a statement from the foreign ministry said.

British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab said that “we are sending a clear message that any use of chemical weapons by the Russian state violates international law and that a transparent criminal investigation should be conducted.”

The document includes Alexei Alexandrov, Vladimir Panyaev, Ivan Osipov, Vladimir Bogdanov, Kirill Vasilyev, Stanislav Makshkov and Alexei Sedov. All of them are allegedly members of the Russian Federal Security Service, directly or indirectly involved in poisoning.

(Edited in Spanish by Benjamin Mezius Valencia)