Ex-Soviet Scientist Responsible for "Novichok" Chemical Weapon Explains Secret Quality of Poison
The stockpile of chemical weapons in Russia has been completely destroyed as reported by OPCW inspectors, the Ministry of Industry commented on the information about the gas mentioned in the Skripal case being a chemical weapon allegedly produced in Russia. The lethal substance was called Novichok ("Newcomer" in Russian).
Why? And what else is known about this chemical? This was clarified by our correspondent Yevgeny Nipod.
This is Vil Mirzayanov. The scientist claims that it was he who developed the "Novichok" in a Russian research institute. He emigrated from Russia to the United States 20 years ago after having been accused of divulging state secrets. This is a record of 2009, when Mirzayanov actively promoted his book on deadly weapons from Russia.
Vil Mirzayanov: "I understood that the country's leaders wanted to keep a new generation of chemical weapons called Novichok. Russia developed, tested and started production of binary chemical weapons that are 5 times stronger than any previously created poison".
The essence of binary chemical weapons is that they become dangerous when mixing two components that are relatively harmless individually. The substance is to be embattled right before attacking. As the inventor told Daily Mail, these components are common and unrestricted. Experts are sure that special services wouldn't act so recklessly.
Vladimir Lutsenko, ex-colonel of the KGB: "Even if someone intended to use substances to eliminate scum, I'm sure that they would use more subtle methods. Using a combat substance is crazy, for it can easily be detected. But there are so many people in the world who’d like to push Russia, to frame it again".
According to some sources, similar nerve agents could have been used in 1995 to murder the entrepreneur Ivan Kivelidi. His telephone receiver was dosed with poison. The businessman and his secretary, who was dusting in the office, died, and the murderer got poisoned. Experts say the Skripal situation looks like a provocation.
Anton Utkin, expert on chemical weapons: "Are those the efforts of some state government? In this case, we can say that Russia has the highest reputation in the world on non-proliferation of chemical weapons. Unlike the West, because all weapons in the Middle East have been created by Western companies. This is written in the UN documents".
What is the bottom line? A turncoat who’s lived in the USA for 20 years telling about a substance he allegedly developed. The name "Novichok" mentioned by the British Prime Minister previously appeared only in pseudoscientific books. And, as confirmed by the UN, all the stocks of chemical weapons of Russia were liquidated long ago.
Evgeny Nipod, Anna Pagonina — Vesti