Putin says alleged spies innocent civilians

The RT interview appeared to show that Russian Federation was not planning to deny the veracity of video evidence released by Scotland Yard, but to argue it had been misinterpreted.

The two men accused by the United Kingdom of attempting to assassinate a Russian double-agent with nerve poison have defended themselves, claiming they were only at the site of the killing because they wanted to see a cathedral.

The men, who bore a strong resemblance to the pictures of the suspects released by Britain, made the claim in an interview with the head of the Kremlin-backed RT news network. Russian Federation has repeatedly denied any involvement in the case.

The Russian prime suspects in the Salisbury nerve agent attack have disappeared following their only interview about the case and appear to have disconnected their mobile phones.

United Kingdom authorities say the pair smeared Novichok on a door handle at the Wiltshire home of former GRU officer Sergei Skripal, leaving him and his daughter critically ill.

Ms Sturgess died in hospital in July, just over a week after the pair fell ill.

After the Skripals were poisoned, Britain and more than two dozen other countries expelled a total of 150 Russians who were allegedly spies working under diplomatic cover.

The pair denied the British claim they were Russian military intelligence officers, saying they work in the nutritional supplements business.

An except of the full interview was shown on RT News on Thursday morning, and an additional transcript can be seen here.

British Security minister Ben Wallace says if they really were tourists, they should hand themselves in. Much of Britain suffered such weather that day.

Boshirov said they “maybe approached Skripal’s house” while they walked around the city, “but … didn’t know where it was”.

They again were recorded in the centre of town an hour later and were at the station by 1.50pm, two hours after arriving.

“It is London’s official stance and we regret to say that it is impossible to make any assumptions, unfortunately”, Mr Peskov said.

“From Heathrow Airport, they returned to Moscow on Aeroflot flight SU2585, departing at 10.30pm on Sunday, 4 March”.

The men, who appeared to be about 40, claimed they did not know who Skripal was or where he lived.

When asked by RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan whether they had a counterfeit bottle of designer perfume, which the police said contained the nerve agent, Borishov replied: “Is it silly for decent lads to have women’s perfume?” The number, called by the Observer on Saturday, links to a reception desk at the Russian defence ministry, where a clerk said he would not speak with journalists or provide any information.

“Let’s not breach anyone’s privacy”. Putin called them civilians and said there is “nothing criminal” about them.

‘Our friends had been suggesting for a long time that we visit this wonderful town, ‘ one of the men said of the English town of Salisbury in a short clip of the interview played by RT. “What is our fault?” “They said they would not go to the studio and only agreed to do the interview in her office”.