Former Russian intelligence officer explains the dark side of the 'Skripal affair'

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The Russian Foreign Ministry denied the accusations, and the Russian embassy in London sent a note to the British Foreign Office, requesting a joint investigation into the incident in Salisbury. In fact, Prime Minister May ignored these statements and announced a list of measures against the Russian Federation. London will expel 23 Russian diplomats and suspend all bilateral contacts with Russia.

Sputnik:According to British Prime Minister Theresa May, the poisoning of former GRU colonel Sergei Skripal was either "a direct act of the Russian State" or because the country "failed to control its stockpile of Novichok nerve agent", which, according to the British side, Skripal was poisoned with. In your opinion, is the British side's accusation grounded?

Former Russian intelligence colonel:Obviously, this was a deliberate provocation on the part of the British special services. First of all, it must be said that Skripal abandoned the GRU in 1999. At the same time, secret agents were banned from traveling abroad for a maximum of 10 years. Then, in 2004, Skripal was handed over to the US in a spy exchange. That is, another 9 years have passed. After that [from 2010], Skripallives in the UK, which means he does not have any sensitive data for Russia. Secondly, local special services monitor people like Skripal all their lives. Special services monitor these people so that they do not flee the country, because there have been such cases. That is, at that time this person was not a threat to Russia - all the most important things (addresses, secret passwords) he had forgotten or had given up long ago. But, in some cases, Skripal could advise the British security services on some general issues. In the West, especially in the UK, there are quite a few such experts.

Sputnik:Theresa May announced that she would expel 23 Russian diplomats in response to Russia’s involvement in the incident. Before the announcement of this decision, leading Western media outlets had claimed that, among other retaliatory measures, Britain was considering a cyber-attack campaign against Russia. Why did the British authorities finally make such a decision?

Former Russian intelligence colonel:They want to weaken the Russian diplomatic mission in the UK. Russian diplomats, who receive information from conversations, are, as usual, more knowledgeable and more professional than their colleagues from other countries. And the British mission in the Moscow embassy almost does not carry out professional work, probably because they are afraid to do something here. Therefore, if Moscow takes countermeasures and also weakens the British diplomatic mission in Russia, it will not bother them, because they meet with Russian agents - citizens mainly abroad or through modern technical means.

Sputnik:The British Prime Minister also announced that the country would first work with gas suppliers to bypass Russia, and said that British officials would boycott the 2018 World Cup.coming soon. What can you say about these statements?

Former Russian intelligence colonel:In terms of budget revenues, Russia remains heavily dependent on oil and gas exports. The British government has long sought to undermine Russia’s position in this area. However, two shipments of Russian liquefied natural gas have been delivered to British ports, and from there other [non-Russian] companies have shipped Russian gas to the United States.

Sputnik: How might Russia react to UK measures?

Former Russian intelligence colonel:Likely,Russian Foreign Ministry to expel about 20 people, and there will be no other measures. In the long term, this situation could lead to a reduction in bilateral relations that have so far fallen to their lowest level, for example, in the field of cultural cooperation.