UK considers Russian request to see ex-spy's daughter

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Gregory Katz, Associated Press
 Updated 11:40 am, Saturday, March 31, 2018

LONDON (AP) — The British government is considering Russia's request for access to the daughter of a former Russian intelligence officer who were both poisoned in Britain by a nerve agent, U.K. officials said Saturday.

The Foreign Office said it was reviewing the Russian request to meet with Yulia Skripal, a Russian citizen, "in line with our obligations under international and domestic law." The government's consideration will include "the rights and wishes of Yulia Skripal," it said.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has blamed the Russian government for the attack on the Skripals, a charge denied by the Kremlin. May has received strong backing from the United States and her allies in Europe, which have accepted Britain's view that the Russian government was responsible for the use of a lethal nerve agent.

. . .

Russian officials insist they have a legal right to see the 33-year-old Skripal, who lived in Moscow and was visiting her father, Sergei Skripal, in Salisbury when they were attacked March 4 with a nerve agent.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Russia-complains-about-alleged-search-of-airplane-12795655.php

[dalton99a]

1. Access means tracking and certain death in the near future

[democratisphere]

2. The UK better tuck her far away so Putin and his henchmen don't get her!

[BigmanPigman]

3. What stinkin laws?!?

England doesn't need to do anything Russia wants. Fuck Putin and his murderous oligarchs.

[bluestarone]

4. THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jedi Guy]

5. She's a Russian citizen.

I don't think the UK has any legal standing to block their access to one of their citizens. Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations states that consular/diplomatic officials must be granted access to their own citizens. It's intended for foreign nationals who have been detained or imprisoned, but I'd think it'd still apply here.

Thus far, the UK has shown no hard evidence that Russia was the culprit here. I'm confident that they were, and I'm sure the Brits are too, but I don't see how that confidence can be used to excuse noncompliance with a ratified treaty. It'd also give the Russians an excuse to return the favor with foreign nationals on Russian soil. Not sure that's a precedent we want to set.

Ideally, Ms. Skripal could tell the Russian consular folks to get fucked and then request asylum in the UK. If she's unable to communicate her wishes, though, then I don't see how the UK can legitimately block their access to her.

[mwooldri]

6. Yulia is neither detained nor imprisoned.

She is in a hospital.

I bet any Russian officials who pay her any visit would be carefully searched.

I think it is up to her right now.

[Jedi Guy]

8. From what I can find, there's no specific provision for a foreign national who's hospitalized.

My point is that I don't think the UK has a legal basis to deny consular officials access to their citizen in this instance. This is the exact text of Article 36, Section 1, Subsection a:

consular officers shall be free to communicate with nationals of the sending State and to have
access to them. Nationals of the sending State shall have the same freedom with respect to
communication with and access to consular officers of the sending State;

Subsection c mentions "custody" in addition to prison and detention. But subsection a makes it very plain that they can't deny them access to her.

Also, I'm not entirely sure they could search consular officials who visited her, since they may have diplomatic immunity, as do their personal effects.

And as I mentioned, if she's not able to communicate her wishes, again, the UK has no legal basis to block consular officials from seeing her.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

7. Maybe a visit by closed circuit TV...

if they have reasonable belief she could still be in danger.

The most important question is "does she want to see them?"

[samnsara]

9. why? so they can finish the job?

[NotASurfer]

10. Put 'em in a level "A" hazmat suit and brief visit

Because "nerve agent and don't want to accidentally create an international incident if the Russian envoy should be accidentally exposed after going in unprotected". 20 minutes air supply. Just to make a point of course.

And if Ms Skripal asks for asylum, no dice