London is trying to use the “poisoning” to destroy confidence in Russia before the 2018 World Cup
The accusation of Russia's involvement in the "poisoning" of former security colonel Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the UK is a provocative move and is aimed at breaking trust with Russia as the host of the 2018 Football World Cup. That is the statement in the statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
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| A spectator buys World Cup tickets online. Photo: Sputnik |
The Russian foreign ministry has repeatedly warned that before the opening of the World Cup in Russia, the Western media will definitely launch a full-scale propaganda campaign aimed at discrediting Russia as the host country for organizing this major sporting event.
"As we expected, the British are especially keen, who cannot forgive Russia for the fact that our country, with an honest and effective race, won the right to host the 2018 World Cup," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
"The British media are calling for a boycott of the upcoming World Cup. Such proposals are being made not only by journalists but also by officials. The reason now is that Skipal was poisoned, and the investigation has not yet been completed, and in fact has not even begun," the Foreign Ministry statement noted.
However, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry, that fact still did not prevent British politicians from immediately drawing conclusions about Russia's involvement, and now sanctions, such as boycotting participation in the World Cup.
"We would like to emphasize once again: such provocative moves, spreading anti-Russian hysteria, only complicate relations between our countries and deal a blow to world sport," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
On March 12, British Prime Minister Theresa May announced that "Russia was likely involved" in the "poisoning" of former security colonel Skripal and his daughter Yulia with a mysterious nerve agent.
According to the British announcement, on March 4 in Salisbury, Skripal and his daughter were found unconscious due to the effects of a nerve agent originating from Russia.