21 January 2019•Update: 22 January 2019
By Elena Teslova
MOSCOW
Russian Foreign Ministry called EU sanctions against Russian citizens over the Skripal case "illegitimate" on Monday.
Only the UN Security Council has the right to impose restrictive measures, the ministry said in a statement published on its official website.
"The information campaign launched by the British authorities on this case primarily pursues domestic political goals," the ministry said.
Russia reserves the right to retaliate, the ministry added.
Earlier today, the European Council put sanctions on four officials of the Russian military intelligence over the alleged use of chemical weapons.
In March last year, former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia were admitted to hospital after being found unconscious in Salisbury, poisoned by Novichok, a military-grade nerve agent of a type developed by Russia, according to British authorities.
Skripal and his daughter were released after months of treatment.
Russia denies its involvement in the case, accusing British authorities of drawing attention away from the Brexit problems.
