Moscow on Wednesday hit out at British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson for accusing Russia of committing war crimes in Syria, dismissing his comments as “Russophobic hysteria.”
Johnson on Tuesday called for protests outside the Russian embassy in London over Moscow’s air campaign in Syria, which is aimed at helping Damascus in its fight against Takfiri insurgents.
He had earlier said that Russian attacks in the war-ravaged city of Aleppo were “unquestionably a war crime.”
Russian defense ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a statement that Johnson’s “accusing Russia of all mortal sins” was just a “storm in a teacup.”
“The Russophobic hysteria that is regularly fueled by certain members of the British establishment has not been taken seriously for a long time,” he said.
Konashenkov said the Russian air force was not responsible for the bombing of a UN convoy in the Aleppo region last month and accused Britain of withholding the evidence it says it has against Russia.
“The alleged ‘evidence’ you say you have won’t be worth a penny if it is made available to everyone,” he said.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Tuesday that Moscow was “truly ashamed for” Johnson over his comments.
Moscow has been backing a Syrian government offensive against insurgents in Aleppo.
Source: AFP
