Putin demands answers from Britain over ‘poisoned’ spy, saying linking the riddle to the Kremlin is part of an ‘anti-Russian crusade’
THE Kremlin has blasted Britain for “demonising” Russia after a former KGB spy was hospitalised following a suspected poisoning in Wiltshire.
Ex-double agent Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia are both critically ill after they were exposed to an unidentified substance at a shopping centre in Salisbury.
The incident sparked fears of a Kremlin-backed hit on Skripal, who was jailed for treason in Russia and came to Britain in a 2010 spy swap.
But the Russian Embassy has hit out at suggestions that Vladimir Putin’s government was behind the alleged attack.
A spokesman for the embassy told Russian news agency TASS that the case was turning into an “anti-Russia crusade.”
They said: “The British authorities and law enforcement agencies must intervene immediately and inform the embassy and the British public about the real state of affairs in order to put an end to the demonisation of Russia.
What we know so far:
- Ex-KGB spy Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia Skripal, 33, are in a critical condition in hospital after being exposed to an 'unknown substance'
- Police are investigating a CCTV image which is believed to show the former double agent before the incident in Salisbury, Wilts
- Zizzi's and a nearby pub have been cordoned off by cops
- Skripal and Yulia were found slumped on a bench while one of them had vomited nearby
- Two police officers were taken to hospital suffering itchy eyes, wheezing and rashes
- At least 12 others suffered symptoms including vomiting
- Reports say Skripal feared for his life after the death of his wife and son in car crashes
- Skripal was jailed for 13 years in 2006 after being found guilty of sharing Russian state secrets to MI6
- In 2010 he was swapped for glamour spy Anna Chapman as part of a deal between Russia and the US
- The incident echoes of the killing of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko
“In light of that, the embassy asked for relevant explanations from the UK Foreign Office.”
They added: “To date, the embassy has no official information about the incident from either the police or other British authorities.
“The UK Foreign Office has not made any statements on the matter as well.
“However, the situation in the media space is rapidly morphing into a new round of the anti-Russia crusade, which is underway in Britain.
“Readers are presented with various theories, which boil down to ways of demonizing Russia.”
The spokesperson said that any suggestions that the incident was “a well-planned action by Russia’s intelligence services” was “totally untrue.”
Meanwhile, an Italian restaurant and a pub have been closed while police investigate the suspected poisoning.
Zizzi restaurant has been shut along with the nearby Mill pub following the incident.
Officers in regular uniforms and plain clothes spoke to staff inside and worked in tents in the area the pair were found.
A member of Zizzi staff who answered the phone declined to comment.
Skripal and his daughter were reportedly found on Sunday afternoon collapsed on a bench in the shopping centre while one of them had been sick nearby.
Freya Church, who saw the couple on the bench, told the BBC they "looked so out of it".
She said: "He was doing some strange hand movements, looking up to the sky.
"It looked like they had been taking something quite strong."
Russian double agent Skripal was taken to the city’s hospital by ambulance.
His daughter was flown by air ambulance and their arrival sparked the shutdown of the hospital’s A&E department.
Police declared a major incident and quarantined key locations including the A&E department, where up to 12 people began vomiting.
As emergency crews cleared the substance left near the bench, others were called to decontaminate the hospital.
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