Salisbury Novichok poisoning: UK to brief UN on Russian suspects

Salisbury Novichok poisoning: UK to brief UN on Russian suspects

UK officials will face their Russian counterparts later as they brief the UN Security Council on two men suspected of the Salisbury nerve agent attack.


Prosecutors say there is evidence to charge the pair, who the PM said are thought to be officers from Russia's military intelligence service the GRU.

Ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, were poisoned with Novichok on 4 March.

Moscow denies any involvement in the attack.

Theresa May told the Commons on Wednesday the suspects entered the UK on Russian passports using the names Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov.

She said the poisoning was "not a rogue operation" and was "almost certainly" approved at a senior level of the Russian state.
Police released CCTV showing the two men arriving at Gatwick Airport on 2 March
Police released CCTV showing the two men arriving at Gatwick Airport on 2 March

Det Sgt Nick Bailey also fell ill after responding to the incident in Salisbury.

Police linked the attack to a separate Novichok poisoning on 30 June, which led to the death of Dawn Sturgess.

Britain called Thursday's meeting of the UN Security Council a day after Theresa May addressed MPs about the suspects.

Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council and will be represented at the meeting alongside UK allies the US and France.

BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera said the aim of the meeting is to maintain pressure on Russia.

But our correspondent said it is also thought there will be less visible activity, including covert work by British intelligence to try to disrupt the activities of the GRU.

Mrs May has also said Britain will push for the EU to agree new sanctions against Russia.

Ahead of the UN meeting, Australia said it was "in lock step with the UK on the importance of holding Russia to account" over the "dangerous and deliberate act".
An image of the pair near Sergei Skripal's home on 4 March was taken "moments before the attack", detectives said
An image of the pair near Sergei Skripal's home on 4 March was taken "moments before the attack", detectives said

The CPS is not applying to Russia for the extradition of the two men, as Russia does not extradite its own nationals.

But a European Arrest Warrant has been obtained in case the pair travel to the EU.

Responding to the naming of the suspects, Russia's London embassy called on the British government to "give up politicised public accusations".

The embassy accused the UK authorities of being unwilling to engage with them, by providing additional information about the suspects such as their passport numbers.
In the evening, CCTV showed the pair at Heathrow Airport, where they were to board a flight to Moscow
In the evening, CCTV showed the pair at Heathrow Airport, where they were to board a flight to Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov told reporters the names of the Russian suspects "do not mean anything to me".

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