The United States said in the UN Security Council that it would work with its allies to hold accountable those involved in the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny, including limiting funds for 'malign activities', Reuters reported.

“Russia has used chemical nerve agents from the ‘Novichok’ group in the past. The Russian people have a right to express their views without fear of retribution of any kind,” the deputy US ambassador to the UN, Cherith Norman-Chalet, told a council meeting on chemical weapons in Syria.

“We urge Russia to cooperate fully with the international community’s investigation,” Norman-Chalet told the council. ”Wherever the evidence leads, we will work with allies and the international community to hold perpetrators accountable, including through restricting funds for malign activities.”