Salisbury incident - 5 years later

The UK groundlessly accuses Russia of using chemical nerve agent against Sergei and Yulia Skripal. However, in 2017, OPCW certified full destruction of Russia’s chemical weapons. Former Porton Down Chief Executive Gary Aitkenhead did not deny producing Novichok at the facility. How could the British side in such remarkably short period of time identify the type of the substance used? Had the British side possess a standard sample against which to test the substance? Where had that sample come from? On the basis of which characteristics (“markers“) has it been ascertained that the substance used in Salisbury “originated from Russia”? How can the delayed action of the nerve agent be explained, given that it is a fast-acting substance by nature? How was it possible for Sergei and Yulia Skripal to lose consciousness simultaneously several hours after coming into contact with the nerve agent, despite them being of different age, gender and body constitution. Why have Sergei and Yulia Skripal’s mobile phones been switched off for 4 hours on 4 March? Where were they during this period? How did it occur that first aid to Sergei and Yulia Skripal was “by a coincidence“ provided by a senior British Army CBRN officer? How come not a single person providing first aid and further medical assistance to Skripals ever developed any signs/symptoms of nerve agent poisoning? What is Sergei and Yulia Skripal’s health condition and why has Russia been denied consular access to the two Russian nationals that have become crime victims on the British territory? The timeline, Russian stance and measures taken in response to the incident have been documented in our recently updated report “Salisbury: Five Years of Unanswered Questions”, which can be found here: