Putin says 'nonsense' to think Russia would poison spy in Britain

[webfact]

Putin says 'nonsense' to think Russia would poison spy in Britain

 

Russian President and Presidential candidate Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a rally and concert marking the fourth anniversary of Russia's annexation of the Crimea region, at Manezhnaya Square in central Moscow, Russia March 18, 2018. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor

 

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday it was nonsense to think that Moscow would have poisoned former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, who are critically ill in a British hospital.

 

Britain has said that Skripal and his daughter were poisoned by the Soviet-era 'Novichok' nerve agent, and British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said on Sunday that Russia has been stockpiling it and investigating how such weapons could be used in assassinations.

 

But Putin, in his first detailed comments on the poisoning, said Russia had been falsely accused.

 

"As for the tragedy that you mentioned, I found out about it from the media. The first thing that entered my head was that if it had been a military-grade nerve agent, the people would have died on the spot," Putin told reporters.

 

"Secondly, Russia does not have such (nerve) agents. We destroyed all our chemical weapons under the supervision of international organisations, and we did it first, unlike some of our partners who promised to do it, but unfortunately did not keep their promises," Putin said.

Despite the tensions, Putin said Moscow was ready to cooperate with London.

 

"... We are ready to cooperate, we said that straight away, we are ready to take part in the necessary investigations, but for that there needs be a desire from the other side, and we don't see that yet. But we are not taking it off the agenda, joint efforts are possible."

 

"As a whole, of course, I think any sensible person would understand that it would be rubbish, drivel, nonsense, for Russia to embark on such an escapade on the eve of a presidential election. It's just unthinkable."

 

Putin was speaking after winning a new term in a presidential election.

 

British officials have said Moscow was culpable for the poisoning and expelled 23 Russian diplomats based in London.

 

Moscow retaliated on Saturday by expelling the same number of British diplomats from Moscow, shuttering the British consulate in Russia's second city of St Petersburg and closing down the Russian activities of the British Council, which promoted British culture overseas.

 

(Reporting by Denis Pinchuk; Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Andrew Osborn)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-03-19

[YetAnother]

42 minutes ago, webfact said:

As a whole, of course, I think any sensible person would understand that it would be rubbish, drivel, nonsense, for Russia to embark on such an escapade

uh huh; and we all believe the words of a former KGB head

[nausea]

Putin' would be a lot more credible if he took the allegations more seriously, or at least gave the impression of taking them more seriously, rather than dismissing them as "drivel" and "nonsense". You'd have to be an idiot not to see why Russia is the prime suspect, and Putin is supposedly no idiot.

[anon537687643]

Perfect former Head of Disinformation is this Psycho ! Murdering all these opponents inside and outside the Russian Fed,interfering in Foreign elections ! This is all nonsense ? As if Putin would admit state sponsored Murder!


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[StraightTalk]

1 hour ago, markaoffy said:

As if Putin would admit state sponsored Murder!

Nor would any other government!

[off road pat]

2 hours ago, nausea said:

Putin' would be a lot more credible if he took the allegations more seriously, or at least gave the impression of taking them more seriously, rather than dismissing them as "drivel" and "nonsense". You'd have to be an idiot not to see why Russia is the prime suspect, and Putin is supposedly no idiot.

And why would the Russian government eliminate someone they had in custody for years they could have don it then !? And why by a Nerve agent that would automatically point to them !!! There are so many ways more discrete to eliminate someone !?!? ..on the other hand, if someone wanted to discredit Russia ??? A sophisticated weapon like a nerve agent would be perfect !!!

[off road pat]

3 hours ago, YetAnother said:

uh huh; and we all believe the words of a former KGB head

hmm,...or believe the word of the CIA instead !!!

[Guest]

43 minutes ago, off road pat said:

And why would the Russian government eliminate someone they had in custody for years they could have don it then !? And why by a Nerve agent that would automatically point to them !!! There are so many ways more discrete to eliminate someone !?!? ..on the other hand, if someone wanted to discredit Russia ??? A sophisticated weapon like a nerve agent would be perfect !!!

 

That was a message sent to the other spies and Russian elites, not to turn against Putin. 

 

The poisoning also came on convenient time for Putin to 'unify the country' right before the elections. Puting does like to cause conflicts and even start wars, when the politics in home is starting to go against him. 

 

It was better for Putin for people to talk about this poisoning, instead of the corruption in home. Instead of the suspension of the opposition in Russia. 

 

Putin's aim is to keep the power, no matter what.. Russian people mean really little for him, when it comes to keeping his powers.

 

[zaphod reborn]

 

[Krataiboy]

5 hours ago, YetAnother said:

uh huh; and we all believe the words of a former KGB head

Where's the evidence? If the UK government has it, then it should be made public. If not, then one suspects this is just another move in the Anglo/US bid to crank up a new Cold War.

[dick dasterdly]

2 hours ago, off road pat said:

hmm,...or believe the word of the CIA instead !!!

Quite. 

 

Who on earth is gullible enough to trust 'the word' of any political/govt. sponsored security body??

 

Was Putin/Russia behind the attack?  Quite possibly, but why on earth are people 'suddenly' incensed about a likely assassination attempt on a double agent?

 

As others have pointed out, US and UK agencies have frequently been involved in similar and worse actions....

[Guest]

1 minute ago, Krataiboy said:

Where's the evidence? If the UK government has it, then it should be made public. If not, then one suspects this is just another move in the Anglo/US bid to crank up a new Cold War.

In fact it's been Russia, lead by Putin, who has been moving the relations towards cold way. 

- Include using nuclear weapons in a war

- Occupation of Crimea

- War in eastern Ukrain

- War in Syria to block the gas pipeline from Middle East to Europe

- Constant 'accidental' airspace violations in Baltic sea

- Killing of hundreds passengers on Malaysian Airlines flight

- State assagniations in western countries

- Supporting and giving money for right wing groups in Europe

- etc. etc.

 

Putin really is not the good boy, you think he is. 

[TKDfella]

The only thing that happened here was that the whole thing was botched up instead of a smooth covert operation. Of course Putin doesn't want to associated with something that could have resulted in mass murder.

[RuamRudy]

2 hours ago, oilinki said:

That was a message sent to the other spies and Russian elites, not to turn against Putin. 

 

The poisoning also came on convenient time for Putin to 'unify the country' right before the elections. Puting does like to cause conflicts and even start wars, when the politics in home is starting to go against him. 

 

It was better for Putin for people to talk about this poisoning, instead of the corruption in home. Instead of the suspension of the opposition in Russia. 

 

Putin's aim is to keep the power, no matter what.. Russian people mean really little for him, when it comes to keeping his powers.

 

How stupid must these elites be if the need reminding every couple of years? Before this incident, was there anyone in any doubt that to mess with Putin was a serious mistake?

 

There was little doubt that Putin would win the election - why would he need to manufacture a foreign outrage to boost his popularity? ll the other issues you raise are neither new or particularly unknown so I see no need for Putin to create a diversion. It did, however, come at a very difficult time for the UK government, and allowed attention to be diverted from the ongoing omnishambles that is Brexit.

 

Nobody is talking in the UK about the likelilhood of open access to UK fishing territories or free, unrestricted borders, both subjects which were swamped in the news by spy attacks. Similarly, last week the government voted to scrap free school meals for 1 million disadvantaged primary school kids in England but to protect them in Northern Ireland - again, no discussion because of spies.

[dick dasterdly]

Just now, Krataiboy said:

Where's the evidence? If the UK government has it, then it should be made public. If not, then one suspects this is just another move in the Anglo/US bid to crank up a new Cold War.

Always a great political move to stoke up anger against a perceived enemy - to increase public support for the govt./political party .

[Opl]

11 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

How stupid must these elites be if the need reminding every couple of years? Before this incident, was there anyone in any doubt that to mess with Putin was a serious mistake?

 

There was little doubt that Putin would win the election - why would he need to manufacture a foreign outrage to boost his popularity? ll the other issues you raise are neither new or particularly unknown so I see no need for Putin to create a diversion. It did, however, come at a very difficult time for the UK government, and allowed attention to be diverted from the ongoing omnishambles that is Brexit.

 

Nobody is talking in the UK about the likelilhood of open access to UK fishing territories or free, unrestricted borders, both subjects which were swamped in the news by spy attacks. Similarly, last week the government voted to scrap free school meals for 1 million disadvantaged primary school kids in England but to protect them in Northern Ireland - again, no discussion because of spies.

 

RUSSIA PROBE

[RuamRudy]

15 minutes ago, Opl said:

 

RUSSIA PROBE

 

[Krataiboy]

1 hour ago, oilinki said:

In fact it's been Russia, lead by Putin, who has been moving the relations towards cold way. 

- Include using nuclear weapons in a war

- Occupation of Crimea

- War in eastern Ukrain

- War in Syria to block the gas pipeline from Middle East to Europe

- Constant 'accidental' airspace violations in Baltic sea

- Killing of hundreds passengers on Malaysian Airlines flight

- State assagniations in western countries

- Supporting and giving money for right wing groups in Europe

- etc. etc.

 

Putin really is not the good boy, you think he is. 

Nobody is suggesting Putin is an angel, any more than are his egregious equivalents in the Anglo-American alliance, whom one could argue have  more innocent blood on their hands than he has, and who need a new Cold War to maintain and tighten the stranglehold of state control on both sides of the Atlantic. 

 

However, it is a principal of law that previous convictions (and some of those you attribute to Putin are questionable) are not taken into account until the accused individual has been found guilty, based on evidence that is beyond reasonable doubt, and is ready for sentencing. In the case of the the Russian leader's public trial, no credible evidence has so far been produced to fulfill this inconvenient (for some) criteria.

 

Incidentally, if you are truly an advocate of giving a dog a bad name and hanging him, there are plenty of potential candidates for this treatment in the West - not least Tony Blair and George Bush Jr, whose unlawful invasion of Iraq caused the deaths and displacement of millions of innocent civilians and precipitated the current European refugee crisis.

 

The evidence of their misdemeanors is manifest and indisputable.

Edited March 19, 2018 by Krataiboy

[AlbionBob]

Is this the same Russia that has always categorically denied state sponsored doping of its athletes over many years, despite incontrovertible evidence to the contrary ?  Of course, we believe you, Putin, you're a shining example of saintly correctness in the World.....NOT  !!   How Russia ever got the World Cup is beyond me !  No wait that was FIFA corruption, wasn't it ?    Wouldn't want to be going there for the footie this summer now - it will be state sponsored thuggery against England fans (not that they're saints either !).  Rant over, time for a nice cup of tea !

[Morch]

10 hours ago, off road pat said:

And why would the Russian government eliminate someone they had in custody for years they could have don it then !? And why by a Nerve agent that would automatically point to them !!! There are so many ways more discrete to eliminate someone !?!? ..on the other hand, if someone wanted to discredit Russia ??? A sophisticated weapon like a nerve agent would be perfect !!!

 

 

"And why would the Russian government eliminate someone they had in custody for years they could have don it then !?"

 

 

Ask Putin:

 

'Traitors will kick the bucket' — watch Vladimir Putin's chilling warning to spies who betray Russia

http://www.businessinsider.com/putin-threatened-russian-traitors-the-year-sergei-skripal-went-to-uk-2018-3

 

[Morch]

11 hours ago, SouthernDelight said:

Nor would any other government!

 

This topic is about Russia's.

 

 

10 hours ago, off road pat said:

hmm,...or believe the word of the CIA instead !!!

 

And it ain't about the CIA.

 

Inane deflections FTW.

[Morch]

7 hours ago, dick dasterdly said:

Always a great political move to stoke up anger against a perceived enemy - to increase public support for the govt./political party .

 

Yeah, and which country just held general elections?

[Morch]

7 hours ago, RuamRudy said:

How stupid must these elites be if the need reminding every couple of years? Before this incident, was there anyone in any doubt that to mess with Putin was a serious mistake?

 

There was little doubt that Putin would win the election - why would he need to manufacture a foreign outrage to boost his popularity? ll the other issues you raise are neither new or particularly unknown so I see no need for Putin to create a diversion. It did, however, come at a very difficult time for the UK government, and allowed attention to be diverted from the ongoing omnishambles that is Brexit.

 

Nobody is talking in the UK about the likelilhood of open access to UK fishing territories or free, unrestricted borders, both subjects which were swamped in the news by spy attacks. Similarly, last week the government voted to scrap free school meals for 1 million disadvantaged primary school kids in England but to protect them in Northern Ireland - again, no discussion because of spies.

 

About as "stupid" as the numerous deflections on this topic and others.

 

'Traitors will kick the bucket' — watch Vladimir Putin's chilling warning to spies who betray Russia

http://www.businessinsider.com/putin-threatened-russian-traitors-the-year-sergei-skripal-went-to-uk-2018-3

 

Quote

The biggest question as Russians went to the polls on Sunday was the level of turnout, and uncertainty on the final tally lingered into the night in Moscow. While independent surveys show that most Russians continue to approve of Putin as president, a lack of suspense or popular opposition candidates threatened to keep people home. The Kremlin, analysts say, was looking for high turnout to deliver legitimacy for another Putin term. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russia-scrambles-to-get-voters-to-polls-to-legitimize-election-ahead-of-expected-putin-landslide/2018/03/18/f8d31426-2963-11e8-a227-fd2b009466bc_story.html?utm_term=.8779ee32a9f1

 

Quote

With President Vladimir Putin's victory all but assured as Russians headed to the polls on Sunday, only one thing remained uncertain and potentially damaging for the Kremlin: how many people would turn out to vote and hand him a convincing mandate for a fourth term.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/voter-turnout-key-kremlin-russia-heads-polls-hand-putin-4th-n857606

[metisdead]

A post containing content from RT News has been removed as RT News is a disallowed source on this site.  

[Scott]

An off-topic, conspiracy post has been reported and removed.  

[mtls2005]

Some accounts I've skimmed indicate that the nerve agent may have been unknowingly transported by Yulia Skripal on her trip from Russia to the U.K. the day before the incident.

 

I've also seen some reports that Yulia Skripal may have been in a relationship with a Russian security services agent, and that she may have worked at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.

 

Maybe her "boyfriend" gave her a "going-away" present?

[maxcorrigan]

6 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

Some accounts I've skimmed indicate that the nerve agent may have been unknowingly transported by Yulia Skripal on her trip from Russia to the U.K. the day before the incident.

 

I've also seen some reports that Yulia Skripal may have been in a relationship with a Russian security services agent, and that she may have worked at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.

 

Maybe her "boyfriend" gave her a "going-away" present?

I read an article yesterday that said the nerve agent tested at Portland Down I think, did not come from Russia FWIW! 

[Guest]

21 minutes ago, maxcorrigan said:

I read an article yesterday that said the nerve agent tested at Portland Down I think, did not come from Russia FWIW! 

 

@foreignoffice

 

Russia has responded to the Salisbury incident in the same way they have to every other case where they've flouted international law... with denial, distraction and disinformation

 

 

[evadgib]

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/putins-sinister-threats-and-lies-extend-far-beyond-his-own-country-article-by-boris-johnson

[Morch]

On 3/19/2018 at 12:47 PM, RuamRudy said:

How stupid must these elites be if the need reminding every couple of years? Before this incident, was there anyone in any doubt that to mess with Putin was a serious mistake?

 

There was little doubt that Putin would win the election - why would he need to manufacture a foreign outrage to boost his popularity? ll the other issues you raise are neither new or particularly unknown so I see no need for Putin to create a diversion. It did, however, come at a very difficult time for the UK government, and allowed attention to be diverted from the ongoing omnishambles that is Brexit.

 

Nobody is talking in the UK about the likelilhood of open access to UK fishing territories or free, unrestricted borders, both subjects which were swamped in the news by spy attacks. Similarly, last week the government voted to scrap free school meals for 1 million disadvantaged primary school kids in England but to protect them in Northern Ireland - again, no discussion because of spies.

 

"There was little doubt that Putin would win the election - why would he need to manufacture a foreign outrage to boost his popularity?"

 

Here's another. Guess some Russian officials just didn't get your memo, or failed to check the talking point list:

 

Russia Credits the West for Putin’s Big Victory

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/19/world/europe/russia-putin-vote-president.html