Russia accused UK of searching Russian airplane improperly

London, March 31: The Russian Embassy in London on Saturday accused the UK of "improperly" searching a Russian airplane that had landed at the British capital and said it constituted a "provocation and a violation of international rules".

An Embassy spokesperson said that UK Border Forces and customs officials had searched an Aeroflot plane after it landed at London's Heathrow Airport without specifying the legal reasons for doing so, although he implied it was related to the March 4 nerve agent attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury.

"Today, we have witnessed another blatant provocation by the British authorities," said a statement from the Embassy's press office. "This kind of event is extraordinary."

The spokesperson added that British officials at first had attempted to search the aircraft without the crew being present, which he said contravened international regulations.