Sergei Skripal, a former Russian double agent, has alleged that President Vladimir Putin is to blame for his Novichok poisoning. During an inquiry into the death of an innocent bystander, Dawn Sturgess, who was exposed to the same nerve agent, he said, "I believe Putin makes all important decisions himself".

The Russian embassy in London previously dismissed the allegations about "the alleged use of the mythical Novichok" as preposterous and&nbsp;denied Russia's involvement.&nbsp;

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In March 2018, Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, were found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury. Soon after Novichok, a highly toxic military-grade poison, was found smeared on his front door handle.&nbsp;

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Months later, Sturgess, a mother of three, died after her partner stumbled upon what appeared to be a counterfeit perfume bottle. However, the police believe that the perfume bottle was actually a vessel used by Russian spies to smuggle the deadly toxic substance.

Skripal, who has remained out of the spotlight since the attack in a statement, said,&nbsp;"I believe Putin makes all important decisions himself. I therefore think he must have at least given permission for the attack on Yulia and me." However, he acknowledged that he had no concrete evidence to back the claim.

"I have read that Putin is personally very interested in poison and likes reading books about it," his statement added.

Moscow, however, has consistently denied any involvement and dismissed British allegations as groundless.

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During the inquiry, lawyer Cathryn McGahey stated that the British government's view aligned with Skripal's — that Russian agents carried out the operation with Putin's consent.

Meanwhile, Adam Straw, the lawyer representing Sturgess's family, called on Putin to take responsibility.&nbsp;

"He should not cower behind the walls of the Kremlin. He should look Dawn’s family in the eyes and answer the evidence against him," Straw stated.

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:680,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2517}">The 2018 poisoning</h2>

The poisoning, which left Skripal, Yulia, and a responding officer critically ill but eventually recovering, sparked a diplomatic crisis and led to the biggest expulsion of Russian diplomats since the Cold War, reports Reuters.&nbsp;

British police have charged three Russian nationals, believed to be GRU military intelligence officers, for the attempted murder of Skripal and his daughter. Two of the suspects later appeared on Russian television, claiming they were mere tourists visiting Salisbury's cathedral.&nbsp;

While no one has been charged for Sturgess's death, the inquiry heard that the discarded perfume bottle, which was thoughtlessly thrown away, contained enough poison to kill thousands.&nbsp;

"You may conclude ... that those who discarded the bottle in this way acted with a grotesque disregard for human life," said Andrew O’Connor, the inquiry's lawyer.

(With inputs from agencies)

Sergei Skripal, a former Russian double agent, has alleged that President Vladimir Putin is to blame for his Novichok poisoning. During an inquiry into the death of an innocent bystander, Dawn Sturgess, who was exposed to the same nerve agent, he said, "I believe Putin makes all important decisions himself".

Sergei Skripal, a former Russian double agent, has alleged that President Vladimir Putin is to blame for his Novichok poisoning. During an inquiry into the death of an innocent bystander, Dawn Sturgess, who was exposed to the same nerve agent, he said, "I believe Putin makes all important decisions himself". The Russian embassy in London previously dismissed the allegations about "the alleged use of the mythical Novichok" as preposterous and denied Russia's involvement. Novichok poisoning In March 2018, Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, were found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury. Soon after Novichok, a highly toxic military-grade poison, was found smeared on his front door handle. Also read | Harris labels Trump 'unstable, unhinged' over 'enemy within' comment, puts him on big screen in Pennsylvania Months later, Sturgess, a mother of three, died after her partner stumbled upon what appeared to be a counterfeit perfume bottle. However, the police believe that the perfume bottle was actually a vessel used by Russian spies to smuggle the deadly toxic substance. Skripal, who has remained out of the spotlight since the attack in a statement, said, "I believe Putin makes all important decisions himself. I therefore think he must have at least given permission for the attack on Yulia and me." However, he acknowledged that he had no concrete evidence to back the claim. "I have read that Putin is personally very interested in poison and likes reading books about it," his statement added. Moscow, however, has consistently denied any involvement and dismissed British allegations as groundless. Also read | Russian court sentences French researcher to 3 years' jail for breaching 'foreign agent' law During the inquiry, lawyer Cathryn McGahey stated that the British government's view aligned with Skripal's — that Russian agents carried out the operation with Putin's consent. Meanwhile, Adam Straw, the lawyer representing Sturgess's family, called on Putin to take responsibility. "He should not cower behind the walls of the Kremlin. He should look Dawn’s family in the eyes and answer the evidence against him," Straw stated. The 2018 poisoning The poisoning, which left Skripal, Yulia, and a responding officer critically ill but eventually recovering, sparked a diplomatic crisis and led to the biggest expulsion of Russian diplomats since the Cold War, reports Reuters. British police have charged three Russian nationals, believed to be GRU military intelligence officers, for the attempted murder of Skripal and his daughter. Two of the suspects later appeared on Russian television, claiming they were mere tourists visiting Salisbury's cathedral. While no one has been charged for Sturgess's death, the inquiry heard that the discarded perfume bottle, which was thoughtlessly thrown away, contained enough poison to kill thousands. "You may conclude ... that those who discarded the bottle in this way acted with a grotesque disregard for human life," said Andrew O’Connor, the inquiry's lawyer. (With inputs from agencies)

Did Putin order Russian double agent Sergei Skripal's Novichok poisoning? Former Russian spy claims so

Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal was allegedly poisoned by a nerve agent in Britain. Sixty-six-year-old Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found unconscious on a public bench in the southern English city of Salisbury on March 4.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said the Skripals were poisoned with Novichok, a deadly group of nerve agents developed by the Soviet military in the 1970s and 1980s, which was applied to his home's front door in liquid form. May blamed Russia for the poisoning.

It was the first known use of a military-grade nerve agent on European soil since World War II. Allies in Europe and the United States sided with May's view and ordered the biggest expulsion of Russian diplomats since the height of the Cold War.

Russia retaliated by expelling Western diplomats. Moscow denied any involvement and accused the British intelligence agencies of staging the attack to stoke anti-Russian hysteria.

Russian officials questioned why would Russia attack an ageing turncoat who was pardoned and swapped in a Kremlin-approved 2010 spy swap. President Vladimir Putin, himself a former KGB spy, said that Skripal would have been dead if he was attacked with a weapons grade agent.

The father-daughter duo was in a critical condition for weeks after the poisoning. Yulia, 33, was in a coma for 20 days.

Two Russian nationals were arrested after a few months in connection with the incident. A European arrest warrant was also issued for Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov.

Skripal, recruited by British spies while in Spain, ended up in Britain after a Cold War-style spy swap that brought 10 Russian spies captured in the United States back to Moscow in exchange for those accused by Moscow of spying for the West.

Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal was allegedly poisoned by a nerve agent in Britain. Sixty-six-year-old Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found unconscious on a public bench in the southern English city of Salisbury on March 4.

Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal was allegedly poisoned by a nerve agent in Britain. Sixty-six-year-old Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found unconscious on a public bench in the southern English city of Salisbury on March 4. British Prime Minister Theresa May said the Skripals were poisoned with Novichok, a deadly group of nerve agents developed by the Soviet military in the 1970s and 1980s, which was applied to his home's front door in liquid form. May blamed Russia for the poisoning. It was the first known use of a military-grade nerve agent on European soil since World War II. Allies in Europe and the United States sided with May's view and ordered the biggest expulsion of Russian diplomats since the height of the Cold War. Russia retaliated by expelling Western diplomats. Moscow denied any involvement and accused the British intelligence agencies of staging the attack to stoke anti-Russian hysteria. Russian officials questioned why would Russia attack an ageing turncoat who was pardoned and swapped in a Kremlin-approved 2010 spy swap. President Vladimir Putin, himself a former KGB spy, said that Skripal would have been dead if he was attacked with a weapons grade agent. The father-daughter duo was in a critical condition for weeks after the poisoning. Yulia, 33, was in a coma for 20 days. Two Russian nationals were arrested after a few months in connection with the incident. A European arrest warrant was also issued for Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov. Skripal, recruited by British spies while in Spain, ended up in Britain after a Cold War-style spy swap that brought 10 Russian spies captured in the United States back to Moscow in exchange for those accused by Moscow of spying for the West.

Poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter divided international community

Sergei Skripal, the former Russian spy who was found slumped in an English city after being poisoned is no longer in critical condition and is "improving rapidly," the hospital treating him said Friday.

Skripal "is responding well to treatment, improving rapidly and is no longer in a critical condition," said Salisbury District Hospital director Christine Blanshard.

As for his daughter, "her strength is growing daily and she can look forward to the day when she is well enough to leave the hospital", Blanshard added.

It was the first official news on the condition of Sergei Skripal, 66, since he and his daughter Yulia were found poisoned on a bench on March 4 in Salisbury.

Britain blames Russia for the poisoning of the Skripals -- a charge the Kremlin furiously denies.

The affair has sparked a bitter diplomatic crisis between London and Moscow and prompted a wave of tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats between Russia and the West.

The first public comments by Yulia Skripal since the poisoning emerged on Thursday.

"My strength is growing daily," she was quoted as saying in comments released by the police. 
&nbsp;

Skripal 'is responding well to treatment, improving rapidly and is no longer in a critical condition,' said Salisbury District Hospital director Christine Blanshard

Sergei Skripal, the former Russian spy who was found slumped in an English city after being poisoned is no longer in critical condition and is "improving rapidly," the hospital treating him said Friday. Skripal "is responding well to treatment, improving rapidly and is no longer in a critical condition," said Salisbury District Hospital director Christine Blanshard. As for his daughter, "her strength is growing daily and she can look forward to the day when she is well enough to leave the hospital", Blanshard added. It was the first official news on the condition of Sergei Skripal, 66, since he and his daughter Yulia were found poisoned on a bench on March 4 in Salisbury. Britain blames Russia for the poisoning of the Skripals -- a charge the Kremlin furiously denies. The affair has sparked a bitter diplomatic crisis between London and Moscow and prompted a wave of tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats between Russia and the West. The first public comments by Yulia Skripal since the poisoning emerged on Thursday. "My strength is growing daily," she was quoted as saying in comments released by the police.

Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal 'improving rapidly' after poisoning: Hospital