I am getting stronger every day, says poison victim Yulia
YULIA Skripal says her strength is “growing daily” after the nerve agent attack which left her and her father in intensive care. Ms Skripal, 33, revealed she “woke up over a week ago” after being exposed to the chemical in Salisbury. Her statement, issued by the Metropolitan Police, came just hours after Russian state TV broadcast an alleged interview with a cousin who claims she spoke to Ms Skripal on the phone. The authenticity of the call has not been verified. In the police statement, Ms Skripal says: “I am grateful for the interest in me and for the many messages of goodwill I have received. “I woke up over a week ago now and am glad to say my strength is growing daily.” She continued: “I have many people to thank for my recovery and would especially like to mention the people of Salisbury that came to my aid when
BORIS: RUSSIA DENIAL IS ‘SHAMELESS’
BORIS Johnson yesterday accused Russia of “shameless cynicism” after its UK ambassador again denied Moscow’s involvement in the nerve agent attack.
The Foreign Secretary spoke before a UN Security Council meeting called by Russia over the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.
He tweeted: “Yesterday, Russia failed to persuade OPCW [Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons] that they, the my father and I were incapacitated.
“I would also like to thank hospital staff for their care and professionalism. I am sure you appreciate that the entire episode is somewhat disorientating and I hope you will respect my privacy and that of my family.”
In the statement, Ms Skripal makes no mention of the condition of her 66-year-old father Sergei, a former colonel in the Russian military.
But in the alleged call to her cousin Viktoria, she is quoted chief suspect, should join an investigation of attempted assassinations in Salisbury.
“Today’s gambit is to rope the UN Security Council into their disinformation campaign. The world will see through this shameless cynicism.”
Envoy Alexander Yakovenko said Mr Johnson’s claim of a Moscow supply of Novichok “likely for assassinations” was “not true, not supported by any evidence...unacceptable”. by Russian TV as saying: “Everyone’s health is normal.”
The Skripals were found collapsed on a public bench on March 4. The UK blames Russia for their attempted murder. Moscow denies the accusation.
Russia’s ambassador to the UK, Alexander Yakovenko, said he was “really happy” to hear of Ms Skripal’s condition. Mr Skripal was given 13 years in jail in 2006 after being accused of acting as a double agent for Britain. He was part of a spy swap in 2010.
ExtRAct Of tHE cALL BEtwEEN ‘yULIA AND HER cOUSIN’
YULIA: This is Yulia Skripal VIKTORIA: Oh, thank heavens… Dear God, Yulyash (fond name), you are…is everything OK with you? YULIA: Everything is OK, all’s well. VIKTORIA: OK, yes – OK, OK YULIA: Everything is fine, everything is solvable, everyone is getting better, everyone is alive. VIKTORIA: Got you. Is Papa all OK? Yulia? YULIA (small pause): Everything is normal, he is resting now, sleeping. Everyone’s health is normal, no irreversible things happened. YULIA (continues): I’m checking out soon. Everything’s OK! VIKTORIA: That’s fine, kisses to you, Zaichik (little hare, a very tender word to address loved ones and dear family members) that’s it, see you. YULIA: Yes, see you, bye. The call lasted 1min 47sec. The voice purporting to be Yulia sounded weak and tense.