Sergei Skripal Expressed Fear of Putin’s Retribution, Inquiry Told

An inquiry was informed that Sergei Skripal conveyed to a friend his belief that President Vladimir Putin would “get him” should he go back to Russia. Ross Cassidy further testified to the inquiry in London on Monday that Mr. Skripal, a former Russian intelligence officer, stated he was unable to return to Russia due to anticipated “reprisals”. This inquiry is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Dawn Sturgess, aged 44, who passed away in July 2018 after being exposed to the chemical weapon Novichok in Amesbury, Wiltshire. According to Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Skripal “did say he knew Russian leader Putin personally and said Putin would get him.” In March 2018, Mr. Skripal, his daughter Yulia, and then-police officer Nick Bailey were poisoned in Salisbury following exposure to Novichok. All three individuals survived the incident. Several months subsequent to this, Ms. Sturgess’ boyfriend, Charlie Rowley, unintentionally provided her with the bottle containing the nerve agent, which ultimately resulted in her demise. Mr. Cassidy informed the hearing that he and Mr. Skripal had rapidly developed into “good friends” after Mr. Cassidy and his family became their next-door neighbors in 2010. The two individuals frequently discussed Mr. Skripal’s past military service. Mr. Cassidy stated: “Sergey did say he could not go back to Russia or there would be ‘reprisals’. He would not go into much details about what this was all about, but did say he knew Russian leader Putin personally and said Putin would ‘get him’.” He added, “They were all from separate occasions but, yes, he did talk about reprisals.” Mr. Cassidy further recalled, “But I remember it specifically when he said about Putin will get him.” Mr. Cassidy clarified that Mr. Skripal had discussed these matters with his friends during a gathering. Before testifying at the inquiry, he recounted checking with those friends, posing the question “he did say that, didn’t he?” to which they provided confirmation. Mr. Cassidy informed the inquiry that he and his wife subsequently searched for Mr. Skripal online and uncovered information regarding his spying activities. He additionally stated that on the journey home after collecting Mr. Skripal’s daughter from Heathrow Airport with Mr. Skripal – the day preceding their poisoning – he suspected he was being followed by an unmarked police vehicle. Mr. Cassidy recounted first encountering what he perceived to be a white unmarked police car and reduced his speed because he was exceeding the limit. He then observed a black BMW maintaining pace, either ahead or behind him, “for a really long distance.” He conveyed to the inquiry: “Because of what happened the following day, I put two and two together and came up with some conclusion that we were probably being followed.” Subsequently, Commander Dominic Murphy, who leads the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, informed the inquiry that the two vehicles in question were identified as Hampshire Police patrols. He further stated his satisfaction that these patrols were involved in “entirely unconnected” police matters at that specific time. The inquiry, presided over by former Supreme Court judge Lord Hughes of Ombersley, commenced at the Guildhall in Salisbury earlier this month, though it began hearing evidence in London on Monday.