The Latest: Envoy Denies Russia Was Behind Attack on Ex-Spy

Russia's U.N. ambassador says "the only civilized way" of settling the issue of responsibility for the assassination attempt against a former Russian agent in England is a joint British-Russian investigation.
 
Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia speaks during a Security Council meeting on the situation between Britain and Russia, Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at United Nations headquarters. Britain said Wednesday it would expel 23 Russian diplomats and sever high-level bilateral contacts after Russia ignored a deadline to explain how a Soviet-developed nerve agent was used against ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. (APPhoto/MaryAltaffer)

LONDON (AP) — The latest on the poisoning of a former Russian spy in England (all times local):

11:35 p.m.

Russia's U.N. ambassador says "the only civilized way" of settling the issue of responsibility for the assassination attempt against a former Russian agent in England is a joint British-Russian investigation.

Vassily Nebenzia told an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council called by Britain on Wednesday that "Russia had nothing to do with this incident" and "we have nothing to fear and nothing to hide."

He accused Britain of creating "a hysterical atmosphere."

Nebenzia asked how the assassination attempt could benefit Russia on the eve of its presidential election and its hosting of soccer's World Cup. He added: "I can think of a number of countries that would benefit a great deal from this incident and accusing Russia of it."

The envoy said ex-spy Sergei Skripal was no longer any threat to Russia.

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