Russia suspends part of payments to global chemical weapons watchdog

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia on Saturday announced that it would withhold a part of its payments to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), claiming that the money would be used to fund the "illegitimate" Investigation and Identification Group set up by the US and its satellites to promote "illegal activities in the interests of the collective West."

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova in a statement posted on the ministry’s official website, however, confirmed that Russia will wire its regular payment to the organization's budget, which she said is an obligation of each of its member states.

"However, Russia, together with some of our partners, will continue to withhold part of its contribution, which is allocated by the OPCW Technical Secretariat to finance the illegitimate Investigation and Identification Group created by the US and its satellites to promote illegal activities in the interests of the collective West," she stressed.

Zakharova assured that Russia, along with allies, partners, and like-minded nations, "will continue to play the most active role at the OPCW."

"We see our task in restoring the former authority of this organization in the future and preserving the integrity of the Chemical Weapons Convention," she said.