Exspy’s daughter speaks after poisoning
LONDON/MOSCOW: Yulia Skripal has made her first public comments since being poisoned in Britain last month with her father, a Russian former doubleagent, saying she was getting stronger by the day but shedding no new light on the incident.
Yulia and Sergei Skripal (66) were found slumped unconscious on a public bench in the English city of Salisbury on March 4. Britain said they were poisoned with a militarygrade nerve agent, the first known use of such a toxin on European soil since World War 2.
London has blamed Russia for the attempted murder but Moscow denies any involvement. The incident has had major diplomatic ramifications, with mass expulsions of Russian and Western diplomats.
‘‘We have told our British
colleagues that ‘you’re playing with fire and you’ll be sorry’,’’ Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told a meeting of the United Nations Security Council yesterday that Moscow had requested.
‘‘We didn’t do it, we’re not guilty,’’ Nebenzia said.
The attack left the Skripals in critical condition and doctors had initially feared that even if
they did survive, they might have suffered permanent brain damage.
But while her father remains stable in intensive care, Yulia’s health has improved rapidly. Yesterday she issued a statement through British police to thank hospital staff and people who came to help when ‘‘when my father and I were
incapacitated’’.
Her recovery means she can help British counterterrorism police with their investigation.
Britain’s Foreign Office said she had been offered assistance by Russia’s embassy but had so far declined.
‘‘I woke up over a week ago now and am glad to say my strength is growing daily. I am
grateful for the interest in me and for the many messages of goodwill that I have received,’’ said Yulia (33).
‘‘I am sure you appreciate that the entire episode is somewhat disorientating, and I hope that you’ll respect my privacy and that of my family during the period of my convalescence.’’
Hours before the statement issued by British police, Russian state TV and Interfax reported Yulia had phoned her cousin Viktoria Skripal in Rus sia, saying she and her father were both recovering and she expected to leave hospital soon. — Reuters