NOVICHOK VICTIM’S MUM DIES OF COVID
Dream of hugging Sergei dashed
THE mum of Salisbury poisoning victim Sergei Skripal died yesterday – without ever being reunited with her beloved son.
The death of Russian Yelena Skripal, 92, is believed to be Covid-19 related.
In October 2018 she invited the Daily Mirror into her home to speak of her devastation at not seeing Sergei after he was put into hiding following the nerve agent attack.
Sergei and daughter Yulia were poisoned with novichok seven months earlier but had made an incredible recovery. Yesterday’s death in Yaroslavl hospital wa s announced by Viktoria Skripal, Sergei’s niece and Yelena’s carer.
Yelena was admitted on December 30 with a high fever and coronavirus symptoms and had been receiving oxygen.
Viktoria herself had tested positive for Covid-19. She said: “I don’t know how to let Sergei know his mother has died. I have no way of contacting him.”
Late last year Viktoria was called by Yulia saying Sergei still had breathing problems following the attack. When the Daily Mirror spoke to Yelena at her Yaroslavl home she said: “I just want to see and hold my son again for one more time. I want to hug him. I miss him so much. My eldest son is dead. Sergei is the only son I have left and I love him.”
As she chatted she patted her pet Persian cat called Silver and above her bed were two religious icons from Spain, gifts from Sergei.
Yelena knew her son was a convicted spy and had been very ill but family members had protected her from the full details about the poison plot.
She said: “I know he moved to England and lives in a place called Salisbury now. I must admit I had never heard of it before.”
While the Skripals survived the attack the poisoning later claimed the life of Dawn Sturgess, who came into contact with a discarded perfume bottle which contained the nerve agent.
Her partner, Charlie Rowley, was left seriously ill but recovered. The suspects, Russians Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, were seen on CCTV in Salisbury, Wilts, the day before the attack.