Russia Mocks Albania's Backing For UK Over Spy Poisoning

Russia's embassy in Tirana on Thursday criticised Albania's Foreign Ministry for issuing a statement directly blaming Russia for the chemical attack on a former Russian spy, Sergei Skripal, in Salisbury, England, on March 4.

Posting a print screen of the statement on its Facebook page, the embassy challenged Albania to show "proof of Russian implication" in the attack to support such a statement.

"We have read the statement of March 20, whose titles states: 'Russia carried out attack against UK'", the embassy said.

"We have high regard for the specialists of the ministry and have no reason to doubt their seriousness in formulating their official statements. Due to this, we have reason to believe that Albanian colleagues must have proof of Russia's role in the poisoning of Sergey Skripal and his daughter, Yulia," it added.

Former double agent Skripal and his daughter were poisoned by nerve agent novichok, a chemical developed during the Soviet era.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May on 12 March said that it was "highly likely" that the Russian state orchestrated the attack. The Albanian statement appeared to go even further. Russia denies the allegation.

On Thursday, the Foreign Ministry changed the title of the statement, removing the disputed phrase. Its spokesperson was unreachable for comment.