Russia has been accused of consistently obstructing efforts to investigate alleged chemical weapons attacks, including in Syria. But at an emergency meeting of the global chemical weapons watchdog, Moscow fired back.
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) began its closed-door session on Monday morning in the Hague, which it had called after the alleged chemical gas attack in Douma, Syria on April 7. The meeting is also the OPCW’s first since the retaliatory airstrikes by the UK, France and US on Saturday that targeted suspected chemical weapons sites in Syria.
Russia came under fire at the session for alleged meddling at the Douma attack site. An OPCW fact-finding mission from the chemical weapons watchdog is currently on the ground there investigating the alleged use of chlorine and sarin gas on civilians by forces of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Read more: What does the chemical weapons watchdog OPCW do?
The Assad government and its ally Russia have repeatedly called the gas allegations lies and said the attack was staged to justify military action.
Russia and Syria blocking access
In a Tweet from the closed-door session, the UK delegation to the OPCW said that Syria and Russia have impeded OPCW investigators’ access to Douma.
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