In Britain, the "failure to cooperate with sovereignty" was explained by the refusal to cooperate with Russia in the case of the Violins

"In support of the refusal, the British side refers to Article 2 (b) of the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters of 1959. According to this paragraph, "assistance may be refused if the requested party believes that the execution of the request may damage sovereignty, security, public order (ordre public), or other essential interests," the Russian diplomatic department said.

The Interior Ministry stressed that the relevant decision was taken "at the highest political level."

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on the UK to establish a constructive dialogue with the goal of establishing the truth in the case of poisoning former colonel GRU Sergey Skripal and his daughter Julia.

On September 5, the official representative of the Prosecutor General's Office, Alexander Kurennoy, said that Russia expects to receive from the UK materials on the case of poisoning in Salisbury.

He noted that the GP twice appealed to the British side for legal assistance in this case.