https://www.reuters.com/video/2018/10/09/identity-of-novichok-suspect-revealed-be?videoId=471672524
On 9 July 2010, Skripal, along with three other Russian nationals imprisoned for espionage, was freed as part of a spy swapfor the ten Russian agents arrested in the United States as part of the Illegals Program,[32][33][34] after being pardoned by the then President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev.[35] The UK government insisted on Skripal being included in the swap.[17]
Skripal moved to Salisbury, Wiltshire, where he purchased a house in 2011.[36] According to British security officials, Skripal continued to provide information to the UK and other Western intelligence agencies for a period after 2010.[26]
Skripal's wife died in 2012 of disseminated endometrial cancer. His daughter returned to Moscow in 2014 and worked in sales.[17] His son died aged 43 in March 2017, in unknown circumstances, on a visit to Saint Petersburg;[37] Skripal's older brother died within the two years before the poisoning.[2][38] Both Skripal's wife and his son are buried in a cemetery local to Salisbury.[39]
In May 2018, the New York Times reported that Skripal, though retired, was "still in the game." While living in Britain he had travelled to former Communist countries, meeting with intelligence officials of the Czech Republic and Estonia, most likely discussing Russian spying techniques.[40] In June 2016 he travelled to Estonia to meet local spies.[41] Russia exile Valery Morozov told Channel 4 News Sergei Skripal was still working and in regular contact with military intelligence officers at the Russian Embassy.[42][43][44]
It was reported that Skripal was a close confidant of Christopher Steele, the British ex-spy who compiled the controversial Trump–Russia dossier.[45][46].
On 28 September 2018, the news magazine Focus reported, referring to a statement of a senior official from NATO's Allied Command Counter-Intelligence Unit (ACCI) in Mons, that until 2017 Skripal worked for four intelligence agencies of NATO countries. Skripal not only traveled, accompanied by MI6 officials to Prague, where he contributed information about the active Russian spy network, some agents Skripal knew from his active service. He provided information to the Estonian secret service in Tallinn, which enabled them to identify three active Russian undercover operatives. Skripal also worked with the Spanish secret service Centro Nacional de Inteligencia, informing the agency about the Russian organized crime in the Spanish region of Costa del Sol. All the trips were organized and approved by the British foreign intelligence service, MI6.[47][48]
On 9 July 2010, Skripal, along with three other Russian nationals imprisoned for espionage, was freed as part of a spy swapfor the ten Russian agents arrested in the United States as part of the Illegals Program,[32][33][34] after being pardoned by the then President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev.[35] The UK government insisted on Skripal being included in the swap.[17]
Skripal moved to Salisbury, Wiltshire, where he purchased a house in 2011.[36] According to British security officials, Skripal continued to provide information to the UK and other Western intelligence agencies for a period after 2010.[26]
Skripal's wife died in 2012 of disseminated endometrial cancer. His daughter returned to Moscow in 2014 and worked in sales.[17] His son died aged 43 in March 2017, in unknown circumstances, on a visit to Saint Petersburg;[37] Skripal's older brother died within the two years before the poisoning.[2][38] Both Skripal's wife and his son are buried in a cemetery local to Salisbury.[39]
In May 2018, the New York Times reported that Skripal, though retired, was "still in the game." While living in Britain he had travelled to former Communist countries, meeting with intelligence officials of the Czech Republic and Estonia, most likely discussing Russian spying techniques.[40] In June 2016 he travelled to Estonia to meet local spies.[41] Russia exile Valery Morozov told Channel 4 News Sergei Skripal was still working and in regular contact with military intelligence officers at the Russian Embassy.[42][43][44]
It was reported that Skripal was a close confidant of Christopher Steele, the British ex-spy who compiled the controversial Trump–Russia dossier.[45][46].
On 28 September 2018, the news magazine Focus reported, referring to a statement of a senior official from NATO's Allied Command Counter-Intelligence Unit (ACCI) in Mons, that until 2017 Skripal worked for four intelligence agencies of NATO countries. Skripal not only traveled, accompanied by MI6 officials to Prague, where he contributed information about the active Russian spy network, some agents Skripal knew from his active service. He provided information to the Estonian secret service in Tallinn, which enabled them to identify three active Russian undercover operatives. Skripal also worked with the Spanish secret service Centro Nacional de Inteligencia, informing the agency about the Russian organized crime in the Spanish region of Costa del Sol. All the trips were organized and approved by the British foreign intelligence service, MI6.[47][48]
