OPCW head tells pranksters Skripal nerve agent not ‘Russian’

The UK claims the substance used against Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury on March 4, could only have come from Russia.

Ahmet Uzumcu, OPCW head, told the two Russian pranksters – posing as the Polish prime minister this time – that a “Novichok”  can be produced by any country, including “absolutely” the US. The conversation lasted for more than 22 minutes.

The comedians called the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Director-General on Monday and posted their damning prank call on YouTube.

Posing as Poland’s Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, the duo demanded to know more about what had happened from the international chemical arms watchdog tasked to investigate the chemical attacks in the UK as well as Syria.

Vovan and Lexus have already pranked the likes of US envoy to the UN Nikki Haley, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and NATO chief, Jens Stoltenberg.

Uzumcu explained to the caller, thinking it was the head of the Polish government, that the mandate of his organization did not provide for establishing the place of origin of the substance, but noted that “according to our experts, it can be produced in any state”.

This clearly contradicts British claims that Russia bears sole responsibility for the A-234 or “Novichok”.

“So it can be produced in any country?” the pranksters asked, with Uzumcu replying: “In theory – yes.” When asked if the US could’ve been the source of the Salisbury chemical, the OPCW head replied: “Absolutely”.

Uzumcu explained that A-234 can be produced “in any country where there would be some chemical expertise. The material, which is used –as I’m told by our experts – is accessible. That’s the problem we face with this toxic chemical”.

The prank callers then asked the OPCW head about the alleged Syrian chemical attack in Douma on April 7. The US and its allies justified a massive missile strike on Syria, just hours before the OPCW team were able to arrive on-site for their investigation.

Russia was cooperating with the OPCW team in Damascus, said Uzumcu and added that speculations about Russia tampering with evidence could not be verified. “We’ve heard this from a few countries and we can’t verify it,” the OPCW head stated.

Several international investigative journalists have since questioned the so-called chemical attack in Douma, suggesting that it had been fabricated. Uli Gack of the German TV network ZDF visited Syria, insisted that the alleged April 7 chemical attack had been staged by terrorists.

“People told us in a very convincing manner that this whole story was staged,” Gack said, speaking live on ZDF Heute on Saturday.