Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has slammed the remarks made by MI6's chief, saying that the British intelligence service can't be seen as a trust-worthy organization, given its attitude to those who dared to trust it. In particular, she referred to the Skripal poisoning case.
"As for 'open doors and keeping secrets,' you might be believed if you handed over the Skripals. Usually, you destroy those who believed and trusted you first," the Russian diplomat stressed.
She also commented on Moore's statement that Russia's efforts to regain momentum in its military operation in Ukraine "running out of steam" and there is "little prospect" that the Russian forces will be able to achieve their goals.
"If Russia had little chance of regaining ground, you, Richard Moore, wouldn't be making such a fuss," she said.
Former GRU officer Sergey Skripal, who was convicted in Russia for treason, and his daughter Yulia were poisoned in Salisbury, the UK, in March 2018. The incident provoked an international scandal. Scotland Yard later confirmed that the other man and woman were poisoned with the same substance as the Skripals. Don Sturges, who suffered from the poisoning, died in Salisbury District Hospital on July 8.
London believes that the Russian government was involved in the poisoning of the Skripals with A234, also known as Novichok, and that Sturges was an accidental victim. Moscow has categorically denied the allegations.
According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the Skripal case is "crumbling before our eyes" due to the lack of any evidence of Russia's guilt. The Russian Foreign Ministry sent dozens of diplomatic notes to the Foreign Office demanding that Russia be granted access to the investigation. It also requested legal assistance and made proposals for cooperation, including a joint investigation.