While Britain places the blame for the Skripal poisonings firmly on Russia, we went to meet the exiled oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky to ask about the Kremlin’s continuing strained relationship with the West. He was once Russia’s richest man, as head of the oil giant Yukos, before spending 10 years in prison for tax evasion.…
Media reports claimed a “government analysis” had linked specific Twitter accounts to the Kremlin – and highlighted two “bot” accounts in particular. But people who run these accounts have both denied it, and even appeared on camera to prove they are real people. So what’s caused the confusion?
Independent inspectors have confirmed the UK’s analysis of the type of nerve agent used on the Skripals in Salisbury. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons did not name the chemical used as Novichok or point the finger at any country for using it. Our Home Affairs Correspondent Andy Davies is in Salisbury for…
The Russian embassy in London has called for a meeting with the Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson over the Salisbury poison attack – claiming its dealings with the UK had been “utterly unsatisfactory”. The Foreign Office hit back, saying it was Russia’s response that had been unsatisfactory – accusing them of failing to answer numerous questions…
The head of Porton Down, the government’s military research facility, appears to have contradicted claims by the foreign secretary over the poisoning of a former spy, Sergei Skripal. Boris Johnson seemingly confirmed that scientists had “no doubt” that the nerve agent used was made in Russia. But Porton Down now says it has “not identified the precise source”.
Of course the incident in Salisbury prompted one of the most co-ordinated expulsions of Russian diplomats from countries across the Western world. And tonight, finally, Russia has responded – announcing in the last hour that it is to expel 150 diplomats – almost half of them from the US.
When a former Russian spy and his daughter were found slumped on a park bench in Salisbury, it wasn’t long before investigators started looking at the Kremlin with suspicion. But how strong is the UK’s evidence against Russia? And what do the experts think?
Gary Gibbon
Theresa May has gone to the top end of the diplomatic lexicon to condemn the attack on a Russian spy and his daughter. The Prime Minister said it constituted an “unlawful use of force” and “more extensive measures” would follow. The Russian government has been given until tomorrow night to explain how a nerve agent…
Klaus Buchner, German member of the European Parliament, and Bill Browder, who has campaigned for Russian sanctions following the dealth of his lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, discuss the Sergei Skripal case.
What do we know about the nerve agents that could have been used in this attack and why are they so deadly?
Home Secretary Amber Rudd has said the alleged attempted murder of Sergei Skripal and his daughter was a “brazen and reckless attack”. But she stopped short of blaming Russia. And Russia has denied involvement. The pair are still critically ill, but the police officer who went to their aid is now able to speak from…
A former top adviser to the Trump presidential election campaign has pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy. Rick Gates is now expected to become a co-operating witness for the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller into possible Russian interference in the presidential election.
As a musical genre it’s rough and industrial. But fans and producers of techno say it’s beautiful computerised soul music. It grew out of inner city Detroit and exploded into the warehouse raves of Berlin and London in the late 80’s and early 90’s. It was typically dominated by men, but now has a new…
The Russian Embassy put forward some stats in response to the former foreign secretary. But we’re not convinced their argument is as strong as it appears.
President Trump has tweeted that he fired his former national security adviser General Mike Flynn “because he lied to the Vice President and the FBI”. An interesting move, given he might have tried to keep the media focus today on his tax cutting bill, which was passed late last night by the Senate, despite controversy…