As further background; Vasily Nebenzia, the Russian representative at the UN Security Council last night got short shrift from the UK representative Karen Pierce. She compared the Russian request to take part in the investigation (by the British and International authorities) as being like an arsonist asking to investigate his own fire.
In his statement to the 15-member council, Mr Nebenzia questioned why Russia would eliminate someone using a "dangerous and highly public" method.
He contrasted the use of a chemical with the "hundreds of clever ways of killing someone" shown in British series Midsomer Murders.
Responding, the British Ambassador to the UN, Karen Pierce, accused Russia of seeking to "undermine the international institutions that have kept us safe since the Second World War".
She said Russia came under suspicion for several reasons, saying it had "a record of conducting state-sponsored assassinations" and that it "views defectors as suitable targets for assassination".
Russian TV has also broadcast what it claims is a telephone conversation between Julia Skripal and her cousin. She is to travel to England to visit Julia. The Russians are demanding to accompany her. Julia herself is entitled to a consular visit and a Russian request to visit her has been passed on to her. She can accept or refuse such a visit.