Russian Embassy Says UK Minister's Meeting With White Helmets 'Truly Remarkable'

LONDON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st September, 2018) The Russian Embassy to the United Kingdom on Thursday slammed UK Minister for middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt for meeting with White Helmets activists as the group is "proven to be affiliated with terrorists."

"This choice is a truly remarkable one. White Helmets are proven by evidence from various sources to be affiliated with terrorists and have been caught staging fake reports on numerous occasions, including a staged 'chemical attack in Idlib.' Their activity has little to do with charitable purposes," the embassy's spokesperson said while answering a question on Burt's meeting with the White Helmets.

Both Damascus and Moscow accused militants and the White Helmets non-governmental organization of staging several provocations involving chemical weapons to influence public opinion and justify foreign intervention in Syria.

Last week, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the preparations for a staged chemical attack in Syria's Idlib province continue despite the fact that the plans of militants and White Helmets had been uncovered.