Salisbury attack ‘approved by Russia’ say allies
Leaders support May over plot being Moscow-backed
LEADERS OF the UK’s allies have backed Theresa May’s claim that the suspects in the Salisbury nerve agent attack are Russian spies.
US President Donald Trump, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau issued a joint statement with Mrs May agreeing with the British assessment that the operation was “almost certainly approved at a senior government level” in Moscow.
The two men alleged to have been behind the March nerve agent poisoning – Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov –have been identified by the UK as members of the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence service.
In the statement, the leaders said: “We have full confidence in the British assessment that the two suspects were officers from the Russian military intelligence service, also known as the GRU, and that this operation was almost certainly approved at a senior government level. “
They added that the announcement about the suspects “further strengthens our intent to continue to disrupt together the hostile activities of foreign intelligence networks on our territories, uphold the prohibition of chemical weapons, protect our citizens and defend ourselves from all forms of malign state activity directed against us and our societies”.
Mrs May has spoken to all four of her fellow leaders in recent days to update them about the investigation. Her comments came as the war of words with Vladimir Putin’s government escalated following the explosive claim of GRU involvement.
The joint statement by leaders of “the quint” nations came as the UN Security Council – of which Russia is a permanent member considered the Salisbury revelations. Mrs May’s official spokesman said that the Prime Minister was pleased to receive such a rapid and united response from allies. Mr Trump’s endorsement of the message followed claims that he was “reluctant” to expel 60 Russian diplomats in the aftermath of the Salisbury attack. An anonymous article in the
New York Times, attributed to a “senior official in the Trump administration”, claimed that the president “complained for weeks about senior staff members letting him get boxed into further confrontation with Russia ... But his national security team knew better – such actions had to be taken, to hold Moscow accountable”.
Former GRU officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were left critically ill after being exposed to the nerve agent Novichok in Salisbury in March.
Detectives believe it is likely the two suspects, thought to be 40, travelled under aliases and that Petrov and Boshirov are not their real names.
Prosecutors deem it futile to apply to Russia for extradition, but a European Arrest Warrant has been obtained and the authorities are seeking the assistance of Interpol.
THE WAR of words between the UK Russia following the Novichok attack has escalated, with a senior Minister saying Vladimir Putin bore ultimate responsibility for the action of his spies.
The two men alleged to have been behind the March nerve agent poisoning - Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov have been identified by the UK as members of the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence service.
Security Minister Ben Wallace said Mr Putin had a strong grip over his state which “controls, funds and directs” the GRU.
He spoke a day after Prime Minister Theresa May told MPs it was carried out by two GRU agents and sanctioned at a “senior level” in the Russian state.
Mr Wallace went further, telling BBC Radio 4’s Today that Mr Putin bore responsibility for the actions of his administration.
“Ultimately he does insofar as he is President of the Russian Federation and it is his government that controls, funds and directs the military intelligence that’s the GRU - via his minister of defence,” Mr Wallace said.
“The GRU is, without doubt, not rogue, it is led, linked to both the senior members of the Russian general staff and the defence minister and, through that, into the Kremlin and the president’s office.”
The PM told MPs on Wednesday the UK would push for new sanctions against Russians responsible for cyber attacks, additional listings under the existing regime and promised to work with intelligence allies to “counter the threat posed by the GRU”.
Mr Wallace said yesterday the UK would “use whatever means we have within the law and our capabilities” to “push back the Russian malign activity”.
Asked whether there would be retaliation for Russia’s activities, particularly in cyber space, Mr Wallace said: “We do all the time, but we retaliate in our way.
“We are not the Russians, we don’t adopt the sort of thuggish, destructive and aggressive behaviour that we have seen.
“We choose to challenge the Russians in both the overt and the covert space, within the rule of law and in a sophisticated way.”
Former GRU officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were left critically ill after being exposed to the military grade nerve agent Novichok in March.
The alleged perpetrators were identified in a dramatic joint police and Crown Prosecution Service press conference.
Detectives believe it is likely the pair, thought to be aged around 40, travelled under aliases and that Petrov and Boshirov are not their real names.
Prosecutors deem it futile to apply to Russia for the extradition of the two men, but a European Arrest Warrant has been obtained and the authorities are seeking the help of Interpol.
Detectives believe the front door of Mr Skripal’s Salisbury home was contaminated with Novichok on March 4.
Mr Skripal, 67, and his daughter were found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury city centre the same day and spent weeks critically ill in hospital.
We retaliate all the time, but we retaliate in our way. Security Minister Ben Wallace.