Sergei Skripal Allegedly Called Niece Living In Russia - Reports

Sergei Skripal, a former Russian double agent who was a victim of a mysterious poisoning incident in the United Kingdom last year, may have called his niece earlier in May, although his whereabouts remain unknown, a Russian newspaper reported on Thursday, citing a recording of the purported call

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd May, 2019) Sergei Skripal, a former Russian double agent who was a victim of a mysterious poisoning incident in the United Kingdom last year, may have called his niece earlier in May, although his whereabouts remain unknown, a Russian newspaper reported on Thursday, citing a recording of the purported call.

According to Moskovskii Komsomolets, Skripal called his niece Viktoria on May 9, the day when Russia celebrates the victory over the Nazi Germany in the World War II, and left a message on her answering machine.

"Hi, Vikulya. This is Seryozha. I have tried to put a call through, but the number was unavailable. Oh well, best wishes on the holiday to you! I wanted to find out how things were with you .

.. Oh well. I am fine, we are fine, Yulya [Skripal's daughter], too," the recording said.

Skripal reportedly called Viktoria earlier this spring after she and her husband got beaten up over a conflict with a former housing bill manager.

Skripal and his daughter Yulia were discharged from hospital last spring several weeks after the two of them were found unconscious in the city of Salisbury. Their whereabouts since then have been unknown.

The United Kingdom has accused Russia of orchestrating the attack with what London said was a military grade nerve agent. Russia has refuted the accusations, pointing out that it had not been given access to the investigation or to the Skripals.