The Russian military and the Syrian authorities hindered the access of international experts to investigate a chemical attack in the Duma, during which civilians were injured.
This was announced by the Secretary-General of the Organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons (OPCW) at today’s Executive Committee meeting in the Hague.
«The OPCW mission to investigate facts arrived in Damascus on Saturday, however, Russia and Syria still has not allowed experts in the Duma. Unhindered access is paramount,» said Ahmet üzümcü.
#OPCW Director Exec Gen briefs Council on his Fact Finding Mission»s deployment to 🇸🇾 to investigate #Douma chem weapon attack. OPCW arrived in Damascus on Saturday. Russia & Syria have not yet allowed access to Douma. Unfettered access essential. Russia & Syria must cooperate.
— UK Delegation OPCW (@UK_OPCW) April 16, 2018
The representative of the United States connects this behavior to the possible destruction of the Russian side of the tracks himataki at the scene. Time can pull because a few days signs of the use of weapons will remain negligible due to its properties.
After the chemical sabotage of the city Duma came under the control of the Syrian authorities and the Russian military police. Russia’s obstruction of justice deny. Referring to the head of the Centre for reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria, major-General Yuri Yevtushenko, the local media write that «the Russian military is ready to assist in providing the necessary security experts of the Organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons in Eastern ghouta».
We will remind, on Saturday France published a report with evidence of use of chemical weapons by the regime of Bashar al-Assad in the Eastern ghouta at least 11 times over the past year, including on 7 April, the Duma. The report States that 5 years in Syria operates a secret program for the production of chemical weapons, despite the fact that in 2013, Damascus has signed the Convention about his ban.
