President Zeman says nerve agent Novichok was produced in Czechia

Czech president Miloš Zeman has said the country produced the Novichok nerve agent for testing but it was then destroyed.

Zeman, speaking on commercial broadcaster TV Barrandov, said he based his comments on the findings of the military intelligence. Their information suggested the type of nerve agent believed to have been used on a former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter was produced at a Brno military research centre in November last year.

Zeman said a report from the civil intelligence agency disagreed with that finding but he favoured the military intelligence.

Russia in March suggested the Czech Republic was one of the countries where novichok could have been produced. The comments sparked denials from Czech ministers and the government. Zeman later ordered investigations into whether it could be true.

Author: Chris Johnstone