Recently, a former Russia agent Mr. Sergei Skripal (now living in exile in U.K.) was attacked by unknown persons with a poisonous nerve agent.
The attack is suspected to have a high-profile Russian government involvement and has hence resulted in tensions.
Who is Sergei Skripal?
Mr. Skripal is a former Army Colonel who was part of the Russian army’s intelligence wing and then worked in the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow.
Skripal was a double agent, who betrayed fellow army veterans, and provided information to Britain that considerably damaged Russian intelligence.
He was arrested in Moscow in December 2004 for spying for Britain, and sentenced to 13 years in prison in August 2006.
In July 2010, a spy swap was facilitated, which freed Mr. Skripal and exiled him to UK, where he has been living quietly since.
He and his daughter were recently attacked with a poisonous nerve agent, and the act is suspected to be a Russian state sponsored one.
This violates the “Cold War era espionage etiquette” of not disturbing pardoned spies and could also potentially escalate Russia - U.K. tensions.
What gives credence to the suspicion?
The nerve agent used belongs to a family of deadly substances called Novichok, which is believed to have been developed by the Soviets in the 1970s.
Additionally, number of high-profile deaths linked to Russia has taken place in Britain and also Russia has had a history of murdering betrayers.
Several other high-profile defectors currently live in the UK and there have already been instances of similar high profile attacks on them.
1978 - Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov (erstwhile USSR) was poisoned and killed in London with a pellet containing ricin.
2006 - Alexander Litvinenko was a former officer of Russia’s Federal Security Service and fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin.
He died due to radioactive polonium poisoning of his tea, but identified his killer as Russian MP Andrei Lugovoi (former KGB officer).
2012 - Alexander Perepilichny was a Russian businessman and whistleblower who died while jogging near London under suspicious circumstances.
An enquiry into his death is under way.
2013 - Boris Berezovsky is an exiled Russian billionaire was found hanging in his apartment in Berkshire in southeast England.
How have the countries reacted thus far?
UK - Reactions to most previous attacks was muted for the fear of escalating tensions with Russia and thereby losing out on massive Russian investments.
But the current episode has stirred a hornet’s nest as there has been a clear and targeted string of attacks that has been going on unabated.
British PM Teresa May gave out a strongly worded statement and has called for stringent actions if the Russians don’t cooperate in the case.
Russia - The Kremlin spokesman denied that his country had any role in the Skripal incident or the other pervious murders.
Russia has maintained that the crime had taken place in British territory and that they have knowledge of the act to support an investigation.
Further, the spokesperson condemned the British PM’s speech as irresponsible and unnecessarily provocative.
