Ex-spy poisoning row: OPCW rejects Russia's plea seeking fresh probe

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on Thursday rejected Russia's plea seeking a new joint investigation into the case of poisoning of ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.

Reportedly, Russia had earlier accused the United Kingdom of blocking its access to the investigation conducted by the OPCW. It then presented a proposal to OPCW to initiate a new investigation which was backed by five other countries including China, Azerbaijan, Sudan, Algeria and Iran.

15 other OPCW members voted against the motion while 17 members abstained themselves from the voting process.

As per the media reports, after the voting procedure ended, Russia's representative denied its involvement in the incident and termed it as a terrorist attack. The Russian representatives also criticised the United States and the European Union for taking sides with the United Kingdom.

Earlier on Wednesday, the head of the British military facility, probing the case said it has "not identified the precise source" of the military nerve agent.

According to the British government, Skripal and his 33-year-old daughter were exposed to a military-grade nerve agent in the British city of Salisbury on March 4.