Sergei Skripal has not forfeited his Russian citizenship, nor did he renounce it and has the right to communicate with the Russian consul, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced at Wednesday’s press briefing, TASS reports.
"Sergei Skripal did not lose Russian citizenship and, as we understand, did not renounce it. He has every right to communicate with Russian consuls, just as Russia has every right to communicate with him," she emphasized.
Zakharova stressed that the Russian Foreign Ministry is not satisfied with the statements by British officials about Sergei and Yulia Skripal allegedly refusing to speak to the Russian side and refusing medical help from Russian medical specialists.
"If they [the Skripals] do not need our help, the British side should let them state that in person. Given the current conditions, we have to qualify the situation as forcible detention or even abduction of two of our citizens by British officials. Actions such as these by the UK constitute a serious violation of bilateral agreements," the spokeswoman emphasized. She also noted that Russia would carry on its efforts to establish direct contact with the Skripals via the London embassy.