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Arabia

Sergei Skripal poisoning: Russia demands proof or apology

2018-03-20

[Al Jazeera] Russia has hit back with strong rhetoric as the UK continues to blame the country for the use of a nerve agent on British soil following the alleged poisoning of a former double agent.

Sergei Skripal, a 66-year-old former Russian intelligence officer, was found in a collapsed state along with his 33-year-old daughter on a public bench outside a shopping centre in Salisbury, England, last month.

They remain at death's door.

The UK maintains that Russia is responsible and, in a joint statement last week, the leaders of the US, Germany and La Belle France backed Britannia's claim.

Russia maintains there is no proof.

"Sooner or later these unsubstantiated allegations will have to be answered for: either backed up with the appropriate evidence or apologised for," Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, said in a statement on Monday.

Posted by:Fred

#9 Donald Trump was a staunch supporter of Brexit. Christopher Steele is/was an even stronger supporter of the status quo, or non-Brixit. I suppose we could make of that whatever we wish.

Recent news indicates PM Theresa May has essentially said the UK's relationship with Brussels and the EU will continue 'as is' until 2022. The UK 'Deep State' has spoken, the forgotten man be damned.

Posted by: Besoeker 2018-03-20 21:39

#8 Which essentially means he never left MI6.

Which would lead to the conclusion that the Trump dossier was an MI6 attempt to reverse 1776...

Posted by: trailing wife 2018-03-20 21:03

#7 This handler went to work with Christopher Steele's company after "leaving" MI6.

Which essentially means he never left MI6.

Posted by: Besoeker 2018-03-20 05:23

#6 Times of London said (in part) on 10 March 2018:

The former Russian double agent poisoned with a nerve agent in Salisbury met his former handler from MI6 every month in a local restaurant.

Sergei Skripal was said to have spoken to the former intelligence officer in English and Russian and they also discussed his business in Poland. It raises the question of whether Mr Skripal, who was jailed for passing Russian secrets to MI6 but later given refuge in the UK in a spy swap, was involved in active intelligence work.

Just Googling around, other sources state Skripal's handler used a nym "Pablo Miller". This handler went to work with Christopher Steele's company after "leaving" MI6. Steele has not been seen for a while now. UK Telegraph has declined to publish Pablo Miller's nym, but you can find it with Google-fu. FWIW.

Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2018-03-20 05:20

#5 All of these rather obvious details are known. Where are they ? Probably where the details of the Las Vegas mass shootings are being held & revised.

Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2018-03-20 05:02

#4 Yes, the 'care' factor replaced by the classic Russian denial.

Jumping to 'blame the Russian' within minutes bothers me a little as well. 'Family members' (in this case, country of origin) are generally the first to be suspected in a any murder, but where is the hard evidence ?

Colonel Skripal obviously had an MI6 handler. Any reporting from him or her? What travels or visitations had Skripal made leading up to the attack (days or hours). Recent Skripal phone or mail, email contacts. Was Skripal provided no counter surveillance or physical security assistance, cams, monitoring devices? Seems odd that he would have a family member visiting from Russian and there would be no host-nation interest.

Why did we have to wait to learn...from a Russian, of the proximity of the attack to Porton Down (6 kms)? All of these rather obvious details are known. Where are they ?

Posted by: Besoeker 2018-03-20 04:16

#3 One fact: Russia doesn't seem to care.

Posted by: gorb 2018-03-20 03:42

#2 Pains me to agree with Peskov but; BMW door handles, BMW ventilation system, daughter's suitcase, others contaminated (possibly 100 or more) and at what locations, exact symptoms, precisely what BIO agent used, liquid, powder, aerosol. No discussion (open press) regarding the potential for a third party (non-Russian) actor.

Lots of guesswork going on. More facts should be available by now.

Posted by: Besoeker 2018-03-20 03:33

#1 Imagine. They could demand obutthole's birth certificate too...

Posted by: M. Murcek 2018-03-20 00:41

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