Russia's Ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, has vehemently denied any involvement in the Salisbury poisonings, which resulted in the death of Dawn Sturgess in 2018. The official investigation concluded that Vladimir Putin 'must have' authorized the use of a nerve agent, making him 'morally responsible' for the tragic death of a British woman. However, Ambassador Kelin dismissed these claims, stating that Russia had no part in the incident.
The ambassador's response was particularly intriguing, as he suggested that the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter was a meticulously planned operation orchestrated by the British government and secret services. He compared the script to the works of renowned authors like Ian Fleming and Agatha Christie, implying a high level of sophistication and professionalism.
Despite his bold claims, Kelin failed to provide any concrete evidence to support his theory. In contrast, the British government and independent investigative journalists have presented substantial evidence, including the involvement of Russian military intelligence agents and the use of the nerve agent Novichok, which was verified by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
The public inquiry identified two Russian GRU spy agency officers, Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, as the culprits who brought the poisoned Nina Ricci bottle to Salisbury from Moscow. They were accompanied by a third agent, Sergey Fedotov, on March 2nd, with the intention of assassinating Mr. Skripal, a former Russian spy who had worked as a double agent for the UK.
The inquiry's report revealed that Petrov and Boshirov likely used the bottle to apply the nerve agent to Mr. Skripal's door, which was then 'carelessly discarded'. This incident also led to the tragic death of Dawn Sturgess, who sprayed herself with the contents of the bottle, resulting in her demise.
Ambassador Kelin's timing of his statement raised suspicions, as it coincided with delicate peace talks over Ukraine. He suggested that the British government's report was intended to disrupt these crucial negotiations, which he believed were at a high stage of development.
Furthermore, the ambassador expressed personal concerns about the potential for a broader conflict to erupt from the ongoing war in Ukraine. When asked about the likelihood of a war between Europe and Russia, he admitted that the chances had increased, aligning with his president's recent statements about the need to prepare for war.
The ambassador's comments have sparked debate and raised questions about the true nature of the Salisbury poisonings and the potential for escalation in tensions between Russia and Europe.
