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Sergei and Yulia Skripal were poisoned by the Novichok nerve agent in Salisbury, England, leading to a major diplomatic rift between the UK and Russia. While the UK identifies Russia as the source, Russian officials like Sergei Lavrov claim the incident is a pretext for diplomat expulsions. Skepticism remains regarding the recovery of the victims and the official narrative provided by British intelligence.
Russian Diplomatic Crisis, Sergei Skripal Poisoning, and RT Questions
The diplomatic standoff between Russia and the West intensifies as the U.S. consulate in St. Petersburg closes in retaliation for the expulsion of Russian diplomats. The hosts review a list of 14 questions from the Russian government regarding the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury, UK. They question the lack of transparency regarding France's involvement in the investigation and the origin of the "Novichok" nerve agent.
Sergei Skripal, Novichok Poisoning Investigation
The investigation into the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal in Salisbury has shifted to his home, where high concentrations of a nerve agent were found. UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has dismissed Russian denials as "ludicrous fibs." The hosts note the proximity of the Porton Down chemical weapons facility to the crime scene and suggest the incident is being used to influence public opinion on Brexit.
A viral news clip claiming Vladimir Putin threatened that "traitors will kick the bucket" is identified as a mistranslation. A Russian-speaking producer clarifies that Putin actually stated the matter was the business of the Secret Service. The report originated from a major network but is debunked as an inaccurate representation of the Russian leader's comments regarding the Sergei Skripal incident.
Sergei Skripal, Novichok Nerve Agent Investigation in Salisbury
The investigation into the poisoning of Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, England, remains clouded by uncertainty regarding the specific nerve agent used. While UK officials identify the substance as Novichok, scientists at Porton Down have not provided a definitive public analysis. Comparisons are drawn to the 2003 death of weapons expert David Kelly, suggesting a pattern of suspicious deaths involving individuals with sensitive intelligence.
Christopher Steele, Sergei Skripal Connection and Russian Sanctions
Reports from The Telegraph indicate that poisoned spy Sergei Skripal was a close consultant to Christopher Steele, the author of the Trump-Russia dossier. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has blamed the Kremlin for the attack, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed the accusations as a "Russophobic game." The connection to Steele suggests the incident may involve cleaning up intelligence loose ends rather than simple state-sponsored warfare.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May announced the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats following the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. May characterized the diplomats as undeclared intelligence officers and suspended high-level bilateral contacts. The move is described as the largest expulsion of Russian officials since the Cold War.
The UK government identified the substance used in the Salisbury poisoning as "Novichok," a class of military-grade nerve agents developed by the Soviet Union. The hosts express skepticism regarding the speed of the identification by the Porton Down laboratory. They cite reports from the OPCW suggesting that independent confirmation of Novichok's properties has historically been sparse.
