Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Putin us on
Novichok assassins say they travelled from Russia ‘to see Salisbury’s Cathedral clock’ A badly-staged farce – with a brutal message
Asked if they had possessed the Nina Ricci perfume bottle that was shown in evidence and contained the Novichok, Boshirov replied: “The customs are checking everything.
“They would have questions as to why men have women’s perfume in their luggage. We didn’t have it.” Salis- bury MP John Glen quickly responded by saying their statements were “not credible”. And Tom Tugendhat MP, head of the Foreign Affairs committee, added: “The idea that Russians were turned away by snow is laughable.
“This is the most pathetic story and is simply an insult following the thorlocated.” ough dossier presented by the Prime Minister on these two GRU officers.”
A spokesman for PM Theresa May added: “The lies and blatant fabrications in this interview... are an insult to the public’s intelligence.
“More importantly, they are deeply offensive to the victims and loved ones of this horrific attack.”
He added: “We have taken all steps to ensure they are apprehended and brought to justice if they ever set foot outside of Russia.”
UK authorities believe Petrov and Boshirov smeared the highly toxic chemical Novichok on a door handle at the home of former GRU officer Mr Skripal, 67, and daughter Yulia, 34, leaving both critically ill. It was linked to events at nearby Amesbury on June 30 when Dawn Sturgess, 44, and partner Charlie Rowley, 45, were exposed to the same poison. Ms Sturgess later died.
Police officer Nick
Bailey, who visited the Skripals’ home after they fell ill, was also left fighting for his life.
Tests the East London hotel room where the suspects stayed showed contamination of Novichok.
British police believe the names used by the men are aliases and claim there is evidence they are Russian military intelligence agents.
Both suspects, who insist they are sports nutritionists, strongly denied the accusation during the interview but failed to offer any proof of their identities. But they were adamant they were innocent. Boshirov said his life had been turned “upside down, adding: “We’re afraid of going out, we fear for ourselves, our lives and lives of our loved ones.”
Petrov added: “You can’t imagine what it’s like. We’d like if one day the real perpetrators are found and we’re given an apology.” PUTTING two Russian hitmen on TV to make unconvincing and bizarre claims they were tourists at first seems a peculiar move for Putin.
But from the attack on the Skripals to its deadly aftermath, everything has been coldly calculated, rehearsed and scripted for maximum effect.
Few will be convinced that these two, or Putin, are telling the truth. But their poorly-rehearsed TV appearance will have done a job.
For conspiracy theorists it chips away at the western narrative. And it will also provoke a desired reaction from those who believe the pair really are Russian hitmen.
They, as Putin proxies, were telling viewers that Russia can do what she likes to those who betray her and can project deadly power globally with no consequences.
But, despite their casual attire, they were not as relaxed as we might expect seasoned and well-trained spies to be after a non-military operation like Salisibury.
Sources suggested they had experience of Syria, Ukraine, perhaps even Chechnya.
What mattered most to Russia was that they would not be initially recognised as being GRU, with their faces on MI5’S radar.
But it also means Russia did not and does not care that we know what they did – because they pretty much got away with it. And this pair seemed to be revelling in it.