PUTIN’S ASSASSINS
Russian spies who used Novichok in UK unmasked May: I will dismantle Kremlin spooks agency
TWO grinning Russian spies are filmed in Salisbury just after the Novichok attack.
They were named and charged as PM Theresa May vowed to “dismantle” the Kremlin’s network.
THERESA May last night vowed revenge on Vladimir Putin for ordering assassination bids on British soil after two Russian spies were charged over the Salisbury Novichok attacks.
The PM said Britain will spearhead a global effort to crush the Russian president’s military intelligence network and branded him “a threat to all our citizens”.
Her pledge came as the two men charged were named as Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, said to be from Moscow’s GRU spy agency.
CCTV footage was released of the grinning pair walking through Salisbury moments after they are believed to have sprayed Novichok at Sergei Skripal’s home in the town.
Mrs May’s spokesman said: “The actions of the GRU are a threat to all our allies and we are sharing the information we have with them. We will step up our collective efforts to disrupt and dismantle their network.”
Mrs May suggested the nerve agent attack on former Kremlin spy Sergei, 63, and his daughter, Yulia, 33, would have been ordered by Putin.
She told the Commons: “So this was not a rogue operation. It was almost certainly also approved outside the GRU at a senior level of the Russian state. On the basis of what we have learnt in the investigation and what we know about this organisation more broadly, we must now step up our efforts specifically against the GRU.
“We will deploy the full range of tools from across our national security apparatus in order to counter the threat posed by the GRU.”
Mrs May also took a swipe at Putin for trying to block justice in the case, which also led to the death of mum Dawn Sturgess, 44, and left her 45-year-old partner Charlie Rowley seriously ill after they were poisoned by discarded Novichok in a fake Nina Ricci perfume bottle.
She said: “We repeatedly asked Russia to account for what happened in Salisbury in March, and they have replied with obfuscation and lies.”
Mrs May has spoken to Donald Trump and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau about developments. She is expected to speak to other leaders of Britain’s allies over the next few days,
Any action against Russia is likely to include counter-espionage attacks, the issuing of international arrest warrants and an expansion of sanctions against Putin’s cronies.
MI6 officers have increased efforts to recruit Russians to help them spy on Putin and weaken his iron grip.
And GCHQ has its own cyber unit which is able to counter-strike against Russia’s attempts to hack into our industry, security and power infrastructure. Russian spies here could also be identified and expelled with the many who already have been, crippling Putin’s ability to gather intelligence in Britain.
European Arrest Warrants had been issued for Petrov and Boshirov, both 40, which means they can be held if they travel again.
They were also filmed on CCTV in London before fleeing back to Russia on the night of the Skripals’ poisoning.
Their names are likely to be aliases. No charges were brought over Dawn’s death or the poisoning of Charlie, who is in hospital being treated for meningitis and loss of eyesight.
He said yesterday: “I don’t recognise the two suspects, but I want to see them brought to justice.
“I am glad police are making progress with their investigation but it’s upsetting to see Dawn’s face everywhere, because it brings back all the hurt and pain at losing her.”
Police have not ruled out the possibility there may have been others involved in the March Novichok plot.
The Crown Prosecution Service yesterday announced Petrov and Boshirov had been charged with conspiracy to murder the Skripals and DS Nick Bailey, who fell ill after going to Sergei’s home, GBH and possessing Novichok. But with the suspects safely back in Moscow prosecutors cannot be confident they will face a UK court.
Met Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, the officer leading the probe, said he was making a global appeal to anyone who recognised the suspects to help confirm their true identities.
He also admitted the “brutal truth” is that the pair cannot be extradited from Russia. But he added: “We are police officers and we won’t stop until we get some justice.
“This is not the end of the inquiry.
We now will step up our efforts to disrupt and dismantle their network PM’S SPOKESMAN ON VOW TO TAKE REVENGE AGAINST PUTIN