Salisbury poisoning suspect Alexander Petrov 'to speak publicly next week'

Novichok suspects Alexander Petrov (left) and Ruslan Boshirov
PA
Lucia Binding13 September 2018

One of the men accused of poisoning former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with Novichok nerve agent has said he may comment publicly on the case next week, according to Russian state television.

Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov were accused of carrying out the attack in Salisbury in March.

British prosecutors claim the men are spies who were operating under aliases, and attempted to murder the Skripals using the military-grade nerve agent.

State television channel Rossiya-24 said it had spoken to Petrov, and that he declined to comment on the case for now.

Ruslan Boshirov and Alexander Petrov, the two men who carried out the Novichok attack, captured by CCTV on Fisherton Road, Salisbury at 1.05pm on March 4, 2018.
PA/Met Police

He added that he worked for a pharmaceutical company in the Siberian city of Tomsk and that he would “maybe” speak next week, reporters said.

"No comment for the moment,” Petrov was quoted as saying, before adding: “Maybe later. Next week, I think.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced today that the two suspects are civilians and not criminals, and that Russia knows their real identities.

Dawn Sturgess died in July
PA

He also invited them to speak to the media.

Speaking in the eastern city of Vladivostok, Mr Putin said: "We know who they are, we have found them.

"I hope they will turn up themselves and tell everything. This would be best for everyone.

President Vladimir Putin says Russia knows the real identities of the suspects
REUTERS

"There is nothing special there, nothing criminal, I assure you. We'll see in the near future," he added.

After identifying the suspects, Scotland Yard released a detailed track of the individuals’ 48 hours in the UK, which included their arrival in the UK at Gatwick Airport and trip to Salisbury the day before the attack.

Officials alleged that the men were active officers in Russian military intelligence.

Mr Skripal, a former double agent for the UK’s intelligence services, and his daughter Yulia were found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury after being poisoned with Novichok.

Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia both survived the nerve agent poisoning 

Yulia regained consciousness and was able to speak after three weeks in a critical condition. Mr Skripal woke up one month after the attack.

A police officer was also taken into intensive care after being contaminated when he went to Mr Skripal’s house – but later recovered.

Later in March, the British government accused Russia of the attacks, with the UK’s official assessment of the incident supported by 28 countries and resulting in 153 Russian diplomats being expelled.

In June, a similar poisoning of two British nationals in Amesbury, just seven miles from Salisbury, also involved Novichok. Dawn Sturgess fell ill 15 minutes after coming in contact with the nerve agent, and died on July 8.

Her partner Charlie Rowley, who is believed to have pulled a perfume bottle contaminated with the nerve agent out of a bin, survived but has been suffering from health issues ever since, including meningitis and sight problems.

Russia have repeatedly denied involvement in the nerve agent attacks and undermined Britain’s affirmations.

The Russian foreign ministry has said the accusations were a "grotesque provocation rudely staged by the British and U.S. intelligence agencies" in a bid to damage Russia.

Last week, its spokeswoman Maria Zakharova strongly denied Russia's involvement in the attacks

after Theresa May confirmed the suspects were Russian spies.

"The prime minister of Britain said that Russia has technical resources, experience and motives for such an attack," she said.

Theresa May confirmed the suspects were Russian spies in a statement 
Getty Images

"We have a feeling that the British government is living in an information vacuum.

"Maybe she [Theresa May] is not informed... maybe she is not told about many statements of the Russian leadership. It seems that she doesn't even read the press."

Novichok nerve agent suspects - In pictures

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