Global Geopolitical Series: Russia says militants blocking OPCW inspectors from chemical attack site

As the UN team of inspectors came under gunfire earlier this week while trying to access the site of the alleged chemical attack, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov has accused the militants of blocking OPCW (Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) inspectors from the attack site. When asked by reporters RIA Novosti on Thursday whether there is a security threat to the OPCW mission, the deputy foreign minister said, “As events show, there is.” He further added, “There are militants who terrorize citizens and, among other things, impede the normal work of representatives of the international community – the UN and the OPCW. Someone does not want an objective professional investigation”. The Russian diplomat was indirectly pointing to the Western alliance of the U.S., the UK, and France, which carried out missile attack on 3 Syrian targets last week in response to the alleged chemical attack on Syrian town of Douma and was first reported by Western-backed rebels and ‘White Helmets’ group, which is accused by Russia and Syria of staging the attack.

Both Syria and Russia denied any involvement in the alleged chemical attack and rebuked the western alliance for carrying out missile attacks before an independent investigation carried out by OPCW inspectors.