Russia suspends part of payments to OPCW

According to a report in Turkish news site aa.com.tr, on December 23rd, Russia announced that it would withhold a part of its payments to the OPCW, claiming the money would be used to fund the "illegitimate" Investigation and Identification Group set up by the US and its satellites to promote "illegal activities in the interests of the collective West."

In a statement posted on the ministry’s official website, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, however, confirmed that Russia will wire its regular payment to the organization's budget, which she said is an obligation of each of its member states.

"However, Russia, together with some of our partners, will continue to withhold part of its contribution, which is allocated by the OPCW Technical Secretariat to finance the illegitimate Investigation and Identification Group created by the US and its satellites to promote illegal activities in the interests of the collective West," she stressed.