Russia accuses UK of denying access to ex-spy and daughter

Russia accused Britain on Monday of refusing to allow access to Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in violation of an international treaty, saying Moscow doesn't know whether they are alive or dead a year after they were reportedly attacked with a nerve agent.

Russia's deputy ambassador to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky, said Britain is obligated to allow access under the Vienna Convention to determine whether the two are alive and want or need Moscow's help.

Otherwise, he said, Britain could be responsible for "forced detention or even abduction of two Russian nationals."
"We are ready to dance, no problem. We don't have a partner, since the very beginning."
"OK. We would be satisfied with this, but it wasn't done, in breach of the consular convention."