About: Novichok
Russia says facts ‘bounce off’ Britain’s Truss in tense encounter
Russia's foreign minister accused his British counterpart on Thursday (10 February) of grandstanding and refusing to listen, at a rancorous encounter that highlighted the gulf between them over the Ukraine crisis.
NATO expels eight ‘intelligence officers’ from Russian mission to alliance
NATO has expelled eight members of Russia's mission to the alliance who were "undeclared Russian intelligence officers", a NATO official said on Wednesday (6 October), the latest deterioration in East-West ties that are already at post-Cold War lows.
Czech government opts for interim spymaster amid political row
The Czech government delayed appointing a new head of its BIS counterintelligence agency on Monday (9 August) in a move seen as allowing Prime Minister Andrej Babis to keep the country's president on his side going into an October election.
Russian ambassador: Moscow and EU need to pull themselves out of ‘this mess’
The Russian Ambassador to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, discussed the current tensions against the background of purported covert operations by Russian military intelligence GRU on EU soil, jailed dissident Alexei Navalny, the Sputnik vaccine, and the upcoming Economic Forum in St Petersburg.
Russia expels seven EU diplomats over ‘solidarity’ with Czechs
Moscow on Wednesday (28 April) expelled seven European diplomats after their countries ordered Russian diplomats to leave in solidarity with the Czech Republic, which is engulfed in a diplomatic row with Russia.
Bulgaria investigates four arms depot blasts for Russian covert action
The Bulgarian prosecution announced on Wednesday (28 April) it suspects sabotage carried out by Russian intelligence as the probable reason behind four blasts in Bulgarian military depots. The blasts appear similar to the one in the Czech Republic, which recently led to a major diplomatic scandal with Russia.
Bellingcat connects the dots between Czech explosion and Bulgaria poisoning
Vladimir Putin dismissed as "absurd" Prague's accusations against Moscow after Czech authorities accused the Russian secret services of being behind a deadly arms depot blast in 2014. But the investigative website Bellingcat connected the dots back to Russia.
Romania to expel Russian diplomat in solidarity with Prague
Romania said Monday (26 April) it will expel a Russian diplomat, the latest European country to do so in solidarity with the Czech Republic, which is involved in a spat with Moscow.
Czechs order Russia to pull out most embassy staff in worsening spy row
The Czech Republic on Thursday (22 April) ordered Russia to remove most of its remaining diplomatic staff from Prague in an escalation of the worst dispute between the two countries in decades.
Russia moves Navalny to prison hospital under Western pressure
Ailing Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny has been transferred to a prison hospital as the EU warned it would hold Moscow responsible for the state of his health.
Czechs say Russian retaliation stronger than expected, seeks EU solidarity
The Czech Republic said on Monday (19 April) Russia's eviction of 20 Czech embassy employees in response to Prague's expulsion of 18 Russian staff was a stronger than expected reaction and the government would consider further steps.
Navalny allies plead for EU to pressure Moscow over medical access
The European Union must pressure Moscow to allow Alexei Navalny to have access to his doctor, allies of the hunger-striking Kremlin critic wrote in a letter sent this week to EU foreign ministers.
Russian court jails Navalny, sparking street protests and Western outcry
A Moscow court on Tuesday (2 February) jailed the Kremlin's most prominent critic Alexei Navalny for nearly three years, triggering fierce condemnation from the West and calls for his immediate release.
EU deplores ‘widespread detentions’ in pro-Navalny protests
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he deplored the "widespread detentions and disproportionate use of force" against protesters and journalists in Russia on Sunday (31 January).
Putin says Russia wants better ties with Europe
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday (27 January) urged better ties between Moscow and the European Union, declaring the Kremlin "ready" for an improved relationship.
Russia summons UK envoy in response to Navalny sanctions
Russia said on Wednesday (30 December) it had summoned Britain's ambassador to tell her it was expanding the number of British citizens banned from entry in response to London sanctioning Russian officials over the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.
EU sanctions senior Putin aides over Navalny, Libya
The EU on Thursday (15 October) sanctioned senior aides to Russian President Vladimir Putin, including the man known as his chef, over the poisoning of opposition figure Alexei Navalny and Kremlin meddling in Libya's civil war.
EU agrees to sanction Lukashenko, impose Russia sanctions over Navalny poisoning
EU foreign ministers on Monday (12 October) agreed to impose sanctions on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and move forward with a sanctions framework against the culprits involved in the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
France, Germany and UK seek Russia sanctions over Navalny poisoning
Germany, France and Britain on Wednesday (7 October) directly accused Russia of "involvement and responsibility" in the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, announcing that they will seek EU sanctions over the case.
Sanctions ‘unavoidable’ unless Russia sheds light on Navalny poisoning: Germany
Germany warned Russia Wednesday (7 October) that sanctions were "unavoidable" if it failed to cooperate and shed light on the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.
Navalny demands EU crackdown on oligarchs close to Kremlin
Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny called on the European Union to take tough action against oligarchs close to the Kremlin as he continues his recovery in Germany after being poisoned by a nerve agent in the banned Novichok family.
High-stakes ‘Russian hitman’ trial opens in Berlin
A German court on Wednesday (7 October) puts a Russian man on trial over the assassination of a former Chechen commander in a Berlin park allegedly on Moscow's orders, a case that risks worsening acrimonious ties between Germany and Russia.
Russia says Navalny sanctions talk is affecting its borrowing plans
Russia said on Wednesday (16 September) that talk of possible sanctions over the case of Alexei Navalny was affecting its plans to borrow money on international markets, acknowledging the risk of harmful economic fallout from his poisoning.