Russian ambassador sensationally claims there is 'no proof' ex-spy Sergei Skripal is critically ill

Alexander Yakovenko: The Russian ambassador to the UK sensationally claimed that there is “no proof” former Sergei Skripal is critically ill
Channel 4
Alexandra Richards16 March 2018

Russian ambassador to the UK Alexander Yakovenko has sensationally claimed that there is “no proof” former spy Sergei Skripal is critically ill.

Mr Yakovenko said the government's response to the poisoning of Mr Skripal in Salisbury earlier this month was "gross provocation" against Russia.

The ambassador said the British investigation was "untransparent and secret", and that there was "no proof" that Mr Skripal was gravely ill.

Mr Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, are currently in critical condition in hospital after being poisoned with a Russian nerve agent.

Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey who responded to the attack was also left critically ill, but it was announced on Friday evening that he has regained consciousness.

Mr Yakovenko told Channel 4 News: "Just the statements of the government is not enough for us."

Theresa May said that it is "highly likely" that Russia is responsible for the poisoning and expelled 23 Russian diplomats from the UK embassy in response to the attack on Thursday.

Mr Yakovenko said he did not know how long it would take Russia to retaliate.

Double agent: Sergei Skripal was found unconscious in Salisbury, where he has been living a quiet retirement

Asked if the Prime Minister was a liar, he replied: "Definitely we would like to see the statements of the Prime Minister supported by facts."

The UK response has "serious consequences" for relations between the two nations, he added.

Theresa May announces a series of anti-Russia measures in the Commons

Sergey Lavrov, the foreign minister for Moscow said Russia will expel British diplomats in retaliation for Mrs May’s move on Wednesday.

Russia has denied any involvement in the poisoning and said expulsion of its diplomats from the UK embassy was "unacceptable, unjustified and short-sighted".

The US, France and Italy have came out in support of Mrs May’s response to the poisoning.

On Friday leaders of Britain, the US, Germany and France issued a joint statement blaming Russia for the attack.

The four allies urged Moscow to provide "full and complete disclosure" of its Novichok nerve agent programme to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

The foreign secretary Boris Johnson took the Prime Minister’s words one step further on Friday by saying that it was “overwhelmingly likely” that Vladimir Putin ordered the attack.

Boris Johnson stated Vladimir Putin was directly responsible for ordering the nerve agent attack on Sergei Skripal

Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn came under fire from his own MPs, after he failed to condemn Russia over the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.

However he appeared to backtrack on his words on Thursday when he said "the evidence points towards Russia."

Nerve agent attack: Jeremy Corbyn responds to Britain's Prime Minister Teresa May's address to the House of Commons
REUTERS

On Friday evening NHS England announced that Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey, who was also part of the initial response to the incident, was no longer in critical condition.

Mr Skripal, the ex-Russian spy who was the target of the attack, and his daughter Yulia remain in a critical but stable condition after being exposed to a nerve agent.

All three patients are being treated in intensive care at Salisbury District Hospital.

Lorna Wilkinson, director of nursing at Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Today's news about the improvement in Sargent Bailey's health is very welcome.

"I want to take this opportunity to thank all our staff who've been working tirelessly to give outstanding care to him, as they do with all our patients.

"In addition to the three inpatients at our hospital, we've been assessing and discharging a number of other people from the community who've had concerns. I want to reassure everyone that none of these people have needed treatment."

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