Advertisement

Poisoned former double agent Sergei Skripal wrote to Vladimir Putin asking to be pardoned

Sergei Skripal wrote to Vladimir Putin asking to be pardoned and to be able to visit his home country, a friend has revealed.

The poisoned former Russian double agent regretted being a double agent and wanted to be able to visit his family, Vladimir Timoshkov told the BBC.

Mr Skripal, who came to Britain in 2010 as part of a spy swap, was poisoned with lethal nerve agent Novichok alongside daughter Yulia in Salisbury on March 4.

The pair remain in a critical condition and the scientist who helped develop the nerve agent has said there is no antidote so they will eventually die.

<em>Regret – Sergei Skripal wrote to Vladimir Putin asking to be pardoned, his friend said (Pictures: Rex)</em>
Regret – Sergei Skripal wrote to Vladimir Putin asking to be pardoned, his friend said (Pictures: Rex)

Britain and its allies have accused Russia of being behind the poisoning, but Moscow has denied any responsibility.

On Sunday Vladimir Chizhov, Russia’s EU ambassador, said that “from the legal point of view the Russian state had nothing against him”.

MORE: Teenage girl fails driving test after crashing car into test centre
MORE: Armed gang broke into family’s home and threw ‘acid’ in grandad’s face

Mr Skripal was sentenced to 13 years in a high-security prison in August 2006, before being freed in the 2010 deal which saw 10 Russian sleeper agents expelled from the United States.

The 66-year-old was accused of working for MI6 over several years, in particular disclosing the names of several dozen Russian agents working in Europe.

<em>Attack – Mr Skripal and his daughter were poisoned with lethal nerve agent Novichok </em>
Attack – Mr Skripal and his daughter were poisoned with lethal nerve agent Novichok

According to Mr Timoshkov, Mr Skripal – who he had known since school – did not see himself as a traitor as he had sworn an oath to the Soviet Union.

He said: “Many people shunned him. His classmates felt he had betrayed the Motherland.

“In 2012 he called me. We spoke for about half an hour. He called me from London. He denied he was a traitor… (he told me) he wrote to Vladimir Putin asking to be fully pardoned and to be allowed to visit Russia. His mother, brother and other relatives were (in Russia).”