Thread: Former Russian spy critically ill in Britain after exposure to unidentified substance

Originally Posted by buriramboy

Harry has come across as a menopausal woman for years Now, how long does the menopause last anyway?

I did not come across a menopausal woman....





Oh.

Frankly, who is naive enough to think that now - after all the show - the govt will say "sorry, we haven't found anything useful, just a sour stomach from the ice-cream consumed on the bench in park"...

(BTW, no longer danger from the sub-sea cutters?)

Originally Posted by Klondyke

Frankly, who is naive enough to think that now - after all the show - the govt will say "sorry, we haven't found anything useful, just a sour stomach from the ice-cream consumed on the bench in park"...

(BTW, no longer danger from the sub-sea cutters?)

Well you could, given that you're the forum imbecile.

The former Russian double agent and his daughter poisoned by a deadly nerve agent will either die or be crippled by their exposure to Novichok, according to the whistleblower who alerted the world to Russia’s secret chemical weapons programme.
Vil Mirzayanov, a chemist who worked at the heart of the Soviet programme, said Russia was the only country able to produce and deploy such a powerful nerve agent, and he warned that many more people may fall ill.
“It is at least 10 times more powerful than any known nerve agent. Plus practically it is incurable,” he said at his New Jersey home on Monday evening.
“These people are gone – the man and his daughter. Even if they survive they will not recover. That is the terrible damage it does.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...ian-scientist/

^Who is naive enough - from what has been presented - not to believe that

it is “highly likely” Moscow was responsible

----

not only the nerve agent but also:

Speaking to MPs on Monday, Ms May set out a “well-established pattern of Russian state aggression” – including invading Crimea, fomenting overseas conflict, violating European airspace and meddling in other country’s elections.

She then went on to give a strong indication of potential avenues for action, saying the UK is committed to collective defence through NATO “in the face of Russian behaviour”.

She added: “Indeed our armed forces have a leading role in Nato’s Enhanced Forward Presence with British troops leading a multinational battle group in Estonia.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...-a8252666.html

Russian spy attack: Vladimir Putin has 24 hours to explain how deadly nerve agent was used on UK soil, says Theresa May | The Independent

Suffice to mention the sub-sea cable cutters...

We are comrades only with good people...

Originally Posted by OhOh

[No Proof submitted for ratification]

Tell me HoHo, at what point in your mental decline did you start believing that you are important enough to be able to receive classified information?

Originally Posted by Klondyke

We are comrades only with good people...

This thread is about the murder of two spies/defectors/criminals/whatever the fuck Neo wants to call them, not about Saudi Arabia.

You fucking imbecile. Read the thread title.

Originally Posted by buriramboy

Harry has come across as a menopausal woman for years Now, how long does the menopause last anyway?

In the case of my ex wife, 24 years and still counting.

Originally Posted by Hugh Cow

In the case of my ex wife, 24 years and still counting.

Never forgiven you has she?

(CNN)It's been described as among the deadliest chemical weapons ever made.

But Novichok, the substance confirmed by UK Prime Minister Theresa May to have been used in the attempted murder of Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, is not merely lethal, it's also highly unusual.

It's so unusual in fact, that very few scientists outside of Russia have any real experience in dealing with it.
The substance, which means "newcomer" in Russian, was first developed in secret by the Soviet Union during the Cold War in the 1980s, as a means of countering US chemical weapons defenses.

Its existence remained secret until the mid-nineties, when information regarding its production was revealed as part of a deliberate leak by disgruntled Soviet scientist and whistle-blower Vil Mirzayanov. Even today, no country outside of Russia is known to have developed the substance.

It's that information that helped the UK Government conclude it was "highly likely" that either Russia tried to kill Skripal directly, or it had lost control of the nerve agent.

Speaking to CNN, chemical weapons expert Hamish de Bretton-Gordon described Novichok as "a very sophisticated chemical weapon" that only a very select number of states would be capable of handling.

"It is difficult to imagine a scenario that doesn't have Russian hands all over it," said de Bretton-Gordon, a former commanding officer of the UK military's Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Regiment.

"So, the chance that perhaps some of these Novichoks have been stolen by criminals or terrorists from Russia is a possibility, and we wait to see an explanation from the Russian Ambassador to London tomorrow, but I think highly unlikely."

According to Professor Gary Stephens, pharmacology expert at the University of Reading, Novichok is a more "dangerous and sophisticated" nerve agent than sarin which has been used in chemical weapons attacks in Syria, or VX, which was used to assassinate Kim Jong Nam, the brother of the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, at an airport in Malaysia last year.

It is also harder to identify. "One of the main reasons these agents are developed is because their component parts are not on the banned list," said Stephens, referring to the Chemical Weapons Convention, an international arms control treaty signed in 1993 that prohibits the use, development, production, stockpiling and transfer of chemical weapons.

"It means the chemicals that are mixed to create it are much easier to deliver with no risk to the health of the courier," said Stephens.

A colorless, odorless and tasteless liquid, Novichok would be easy to transport, suggested de Bretton-Gordon, who described it as likely going undetected "through an airport or a seaport or even through the mail."

Like other nerve agents, Novichok works by causing a slowing of the heart and restriction of the airways, leading to a slow and often painful death by asphyxiation.

Andrea Sella, professor of chemistry at University College London, described Novichok as causing a "systemic collapse of many bodily functions."

"In essence what they do is to block the mechanism that allows a nerve to reset itself after a signal has been transmitted," said Sella, adding that the symptoms were largely consistent, "especially the labored breathing and the muscular rigidity."

There is no treatment, only supportive care, including oxygen, anti-seizure medication, atropine, used for some poisoning patients, and pralidoxime chloride, given to inhibit poisoning including by nerve agents. Even just small doses can cause confusion and drowsiness.

"Treatment involves supporting breathing and delivering pharmaceuticals that on the one hand moderate the behavior of the nervous system and that can reverse the action of the agent," said Sella.

"It is likely that there will be long-term neurological problems for a person who has been exposed to these agents."
Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, remain hospitalized in critical condition. A police officer who came into contact with the nerve agent, Detective Sgt. Nick Bailey, remains hospitalized in serious condition but has been speaking to visitors.

The next question facing the UK government is how precisely the attack was administered -- and how the Skripals ingested the agent.

According to the medical handbook, Responding to Terrorism, published in 2010, Novichok nerve agents "may be dispersed as an ultra-fine powder as opposed to a gas or a vapor," with the main route of exposure thought to be by inhalation, although "absorption may also occur via skin or mucous membrane exposure."

According to the book's authors, professors Ian Greaves and Paul Hunt, the Novochok class of agent was reportedly engineered to be undetectable by standard detection equipment, meaning further investigation may prove to be difficult.

On Friday, an additional 180 military personnel were deployed to the scene to help police investigate several sites amid concerns over potential contamination.

This was followed yesterday by the removal of the restaurant table where Sergei and Yulia Skripal ate on the day of attack for examination, a source confirmed to CNN. Restaurant employees were also advised to wash their uniforms, but not to burn them.

However, in spite of the extreme toxicity of these compounds, there would be very little risk to the general population, suggested professor Salla.

"There is no way of spreading the material around and it would decompose relatively swiftly in damp conditions," said Salla, who described the attempted murder as a "highly targeted attack."

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/13/e...ntl/index.html

The Russians could have bumped off this double agent while they had him in custody, but they released him, and the message the Russians have sent out is this " Don't think we won't get you, anywhere you hide, it'll never be safe"

Originally Posted by wasabi

The Russians could have bumped off this double agent while they had him in custody, but they released him, and the message the Russians have sent out is this " Don't think we won't get you, anywhere you hide, it'll never be safe"

No, he was useful because they involved him in a prisoner swap (they got that Anna Chapman back).

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

No, he was useful because they involved him in a prisoner swap

They did swap him but they wouldn't have done if he'd posed any threat to them. That is my understanding why he was swapped.

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

They did swap him but they wouldn't have done if he'd posed any threat to them. That is my understanding why he was swapped.

Yes, by that time the damage had been done. Same with the large breasted Mata Hari-ski.

The Russians have got until midnight to respond, otherwise the British will write them a very stiff letter of admonishment.

Donald Trump Fires Secretary of State Rex Tillerson

The Scotsman
By PARIS GOURTSOYANNIS
Tuesday 13 March 2018

Donald Trump has fired his Secretary of State hours after Rex Tillerson backed the UK's claim that the Salisbury nerve agent attack was "highly likely" to have originated in Russia. It was reported by the Washington Post that Mr Tillerson was informed of his dismissal several days ago.



However, the timing of the announcement, which followed the White House’s refusal to echo Theresa May’s accusation against Moscow, risks isolating Downing Street. The US President tweeted that the CIA Director Mike Pompeo would take over at the State Department.

Russia demands access to sample of Novichok nerve agent as deadline looms A senior White House official said: “The president wanted to make sure to have his new team in place in advance of the upcoming talks with North Korea and various ongoing trade negotiations.”

There had been longstanding rumors to friction between the President and Mr Tillerson, a former Exxon Mobile chief executive. The Secretary of State had previously been forced to deny media reports that he called Mr Trump a “moron”.

On Monday, Mr Tillerson had echoed the Prime Minister’s comments about Moscow’s involvement in the Salisbury attack, saying it “clearly came from Russia”.

Read more at: https://www.scotsman.com/news/politi...laim-1-4704745

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Tell me HoHo, at what point in your mental decline did you start believing that you are important enough to be able to receive classified information?

You may wish to brush up on legally signed agreements regarding procedures on the alleged use of chemical weapons. I believe there is a UN document if you can absorb some facts available to all of us not just your favourite "people of status".

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

It's so unusual in fact, that very few scientists outside of Russia have any real experience in dealing with it.

You may wish to investigate where the Russian/Soviet person who designed the weapons resides and for how long he has been living there. You may also wish to investigate which country had access to these types of weapons, what agreements they signed after the dissolution of USSR and which country "assisted", the ex USSR country, with the clean up of the facilities where the weapons were tested and stored and paid them handsomely for the privilege.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

The Russians have got until midnight to respond, otherwise the British will write them a very stiff letter of admonishment.

The Russian Foreign minister replied prior to the threat of war. The Russian Foreign Ministry spokes person, the blonde lady, replies yesterday. Not that your impeccable "sources" would publish them.



"On Tuesday, Moscow balked at this demand, with the Russian Foreign Ministry saying that it had summoned British Ambassador to Moscow Laurie Bristow. “We have certainly heard the ultimatum voiced in London,” Russia's top diplomat Sergey Lavrov said. “The spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry has commented on our attitude to this,” he added referring to Maria Zakharova branding of May’s appearance in Parliament as a “circus.”


Lavrov said that a case of alleged use of chemical weapons should be handled through the proper channel, being the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons of which both Russia and Britain are members.


“As soon as the rumours came up that the poisoning of Skripal involved a Russia-produced agent, which almost the entire English leadership has been fanning up, we sent an official request for access to this compound so that our experts could test it in accordance with the Chemical Weapons Convention [CWC],” Lavrov said. So far the request has been ignored by the British side, he added."

Originally Posted by Wilsonandson

Rex Tillerson backed the UK's claim that the Salisbury nerve agent attack was "highly likely" to have originated in Russia.

An ex government officer who has no authority to speak on behalf of ameristan. What has he got to do with anything, he allegedly was fired on Friday. A has-been.

The only good thing is that the hag from the ameristani UN team wasn't selected.

You may also wish to investigate the ex spy's relationship with the ex MI6 spy who was responsible for the unproven Russian hacking allegations.

Or just keep drinking the Koolaid.

Apparently it's tinfoil hat time!

The British did it to discredit the Ruskies.

The Russians want to test samples found at the scene themselves.

A challenging investigation!

“Since World War II, Israel has assassinated more people than any other country in the Western world.”

I don't see anyone getting tough with the 'Blue Suede Shoes'.

After spy is poisoned, Britain mulls closing door to London for Russia's rich

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Britain’s response to the poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal on its soil, using a nerve agent developed by the Soviet Union, could hit members of the Russian elite hard if it closes the door on their London lifestyles.

Britain gave Russian President Vladimir Putin until midnight on Tuesday to provide an explanation for the attack, and is due to consider its official response on Wednesday.



One possible counter-measure, suggested by British lawmaker Tom Tugendhat, could involve denying Russia’s so-called oligarchs access to the luxuries of London, where many have channeled their fortunes, traded their companies and relocated their family lives.


Most prominent among the residents of “Londongrad”, as the British capital has been nicknamed for its popularity among the Russian elite, are Roman Abramovich and Alisher Usmanov, respectively owner and major shareholder of the English football clubs Chelsea and Arsenal.


But they are far from alone. Around 10-15 percent of the 96 Russians on the so-called “oligarch list” published by the U.S. Treasury Department in January could have close ties to Britain, according to Vladimir Ashurkov, a businessman and critic of the Kremlin based in London.


“It’s very possible that Britain will take measures that could affect these individuals,” Ashurkov said.


“We know that London is a large haven for money that come from Russia ... Britain has the capacity to investigate this money and the activity of specific people,” he added.


Among the best-known are a group of long-time business partners associated with the investment vehicle LetterOne, which sports three offices in London’s wealthy Mayfair district alone.


The firm’s founder, Mikhail Fridman, owns a mansion in London’s Highgate, according to the company restoring the property.


One of the firm’s investors, Petr Aven, has given journalists tours around his estate in Surrey, in the southeast of England.


Among the best-known are a group of long-time business partners associated with the investment vehicle LetterOne, which sports three offices in London’s wealthy Mayfair district alone.


The firm’s founder, Mikhail Fridman, owns a mansion in London’s Highgate, according to the company restoring the property.


One of the firm’s investors, Petr Aven, has given journalists tours around his estate in Surrey, in the southeast of England.


After being fired as Moscow mayor in 2010, Yuri Luzhkov moved his family to London, saying he feared for their safety.


Last December Yelena Baturina, his wife and Russia’s wealthiest woman, was made a director of the charity the Mayor’s Fund for London, according to Britain’s business directory Companies House.


Their daughter Olga studied at University College London, her social media accounts show.



It is by no means certain that oligarchs bringing their money home would receive a warm welcome, said Christopher Weafer, senior partner at Macro-Advisory, a consultancy in Moscow.


“Oligarchs could find themselves in the middle, in the firing ground as it were,” Weafer said.


“They could be the target of sanctions applied by the UK government, but on the other hand they will get absolutely no sympathy in Russia, because they brought their money out and spent it outside the country.”


Reuters has no evidence that any of the people mentioned, or their businesses, are going to be subject to any new British restrictions.


https://www.reuters.com/article/us-b...-idUSKCN1GP2WE

From polonium to a poisoned umbrella: mysterious fates of Kremlin foes

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-b...-idUSKCN1GP2S8

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

I don't see anyone getting tough with the 'Blue Suede Shoes'.

You missed the recent Syrian shoot down of one of their fly-boys and the Israeli leader squealing like a stuck pig. First time Syria has defended itself against the BSSs for decades.

Originally Posted by misskit

From polonium to a poisoned umbrella: mysterious fates of Kremlin foes

I'm "probably" going to get a blast from 'arry for this but it doesn't mean the statement is the truth.

Same as your supposition.