Expelled Russian diplomats leave UK amid spy row

London, March 20 

Nearly two dozen Russian diplomats expelled by the British government in retaliation over the poisoning of a UK-based former Russian double agent and his daughter left the country today with their families.

The Russian Embassy in London confirmed that around 80 people, including the 23 Russian diplomats and their families, were on their way back to Moscow, which marks the one-week deadline given by British Prime Minister Theresa May in her House of Commons statement.

May told Parliament that the UK was certain that a deadly nerve agent from the Novichok stock associated with Russia had been used in the attempted murder of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury on March 4.

The 23 diplomats expelled were identified by May as “undeclared intelligence officers”, a charge the Russian embassy has denied.

A small crowd gathered outside the embassy and waved goodbye to people carrying suitcases, children and pets as they boarded diplomatic cars and buses. They boarded their flight back to Russia from Stansted Airport. The Kremlin has also expelled 23 British diplomats in response, who have until Saturday to leave Russia. — PTI