Ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for President Vladimir Putin, told reporters that Sergei Skripal worked for British intelligence and was poisoned on British soil, and therefore the incident has nothing to do with Russia, let alone the Russian leadership. Peskov also said the Kremlin has not heard any official statements of Russian involvement.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said London will respond if the culprit behind Skripal’s poisoning is identified. On March 5, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson compared the incident to the death of Alexander Litvinenko in 2006, and threatened fresh sanctions against Russia if it is proven to have poisoned the Russian double agent. UK counter-terrorism police have taken over the case as a murder.