The Russian Defense Ministry and Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Industry and Trade held a press briefing on Thursday in the wake of a report prepared by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons – UN Joint Mission (OPCW-UN). The report accuses Damascus of using chemical weapons in Khan Sheikhoun on April 4.

Russia has voiced strong opposition to the use of chemical weapons, emphasizing that those guilty in such crimes should be brought to justice.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the UN-OPCW report on the chemical weapons’ use in Syria is biased and “unprofessional.” Investigators have first refused to visit the site of the alleged chemical attack in Khan Sheikhoun in the Idlib province, the Russian ministry has recalled, adding that the probe had been conducted remotely.

When experts have finally arrived at the site, they have refused to take samples, the Russian ministry said, noting that Moscow suspects “sabotage” in the work of the experts.

The report into the chemical attack contains words “supposedly,” “likely,” etc, which mean that the findings of the document can be questioned, according to Moscow.

The report blamed Damascus for the Idlib chemical attack based on three claims that 1) a bomb with sarin has been dropped by the Syrian military aviation on Khan Sheikhoun; 2) photo and video from the site; 3) analysis of sarin.

According to Russia’s findings, a Syrian warplane has been in the area, but it was 5 km away from the site and couldn’t drop the bomb at the site due to the plane’s technical characteristics. Eyewitnesses haven’t seen a jet above Khan Sheikhoun as well, a Russian Defense Ministry’s official has said, emphasizing that due to these facts it is incorrect to say that a Syrian Su-22 could have dropped a bomb on the town in Idlib.

Source: Sputnik