Still No Proof of Any Russian Connection: Skripal Allegations Falling Apart Under Closer Scrutiny
British experts were unable to establish the origin of the toxin used to poison Sergei and Yulia Skripal. No evidence of the nerve agent's connection to Russia was found. Porton Down's lab chief reported this to the UK's Sky News Channel today. He said Theresa May's government came to conclusions by comparing the experts' report with other sources. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs suspects that the scandal over the Skripal case was needed in order to justify the growth of NATO expenditures to European taxpayers.
Aleksandr Khabarov reports on new details regarding the Salisbury attack.
The chief of the Porton Down lab, where research was conducted regarding the toxin used to poison Skripal, made a loud statement in an interview with Sky News. Gary Aitkenhead said that his lab's experts had no proof that the poison was manufactured in Russia.
Kay Burley, Sky News: "We begin our news release with important findings regarding the Salisbury attack".
Gary Aitkenhead, Porton Down chief executive: "We were able to identify the substance as a military-grade nerve agent known as "Novichok". We have not identified the precise source, but we provided the scientific data to the government, who then used a number of other sources to piece together their conclusions".
The laboratory directly reports to the UK Department of Defense, and it is doubtful that the lab's chief can decide on his own what to say during an interview. Referring to classified materials that provide the basis for accusations is London's oldest trick in the book. The same thing happened in the case of Litvinenko, who was also poisoned in England. They went back to their old bag of tricks for the Skripal case.
It's notable, that the head of Porton Down's report came out on the eve of a crucial Hague Convention, where the Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is gathering. It was formed at Russia's request in order to objectively sort out the situation in Salisbury.
It's unlikely that this coincidence is accidental. Last week, Aitkenhead had already been interviewed by British journalists, but he didn't mention that his laboratory couldn't establish the origin of the nerve agent allegedly used to poison Skripal and his daughter. Instead of real facts, various reports appeared in the press every other day; for instance, stories about poisoned doors, flower bouquets, and even buckwheat porridge.
By the way, the laboratory’s chief didn't answer a question about whether the notorious "Novichok" is stored in Porton Down and whether this chemical was developed there or not. He only stated that a leak from his lab was completely impossible. Currently, London needs exactly this response for official use.
John Glenn, Member of Parliament of Great Britain:
"Today it was confirmed that the chemical was a military-grade nerve agent. But how did the chemical get here? They couldn't identify this in the laboratory, of course.
- Just to clarify, Mr. Glenn, do you have any doubts that Russia is responsible?
I have no doubts. What we have learned today is only part of the intelligence picture".
In turn, Russia demands that it be provided information on the investigation process, requesting that it be informed about the results of the analysis currently being carried out by international experts at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
Aleksandr Khabarov, Ilya Mordukov, Vesti, London