Retired KGB Agent Vasilyev: Accused Salisbury "Russian Agents" Hardly Look/Act Like Spies

Alexander Vasilyev, retired KGB officer (1987-1990):  I think that showing it was the right decision. I was afraid that Russia would stay on the defensive, like, 'We don't know those guys… I'd say it probably went on the offensive.

- It didn't stay on the defensive.

 

- No, it didn't, I was just afraid that it would stay on the defensive. And, secondly, what is good about that interview is that now we can put pressure on the British authorities in order to get access to the Skripals as the British media have no access to them. They had several interviews with Charlie Rowley, who had found the perfume bottle. As for the Skripals, I think they're hidden because if they tell the real story or if journalists begin to ask them questions, that real story will differ a lot from the official version being imposed on us by the British government. In my opinion, these are the two points that I consider to be very good, which is great.

- Alexander Yurievich, one more question. Do you think it will entail any political repercussions? And, as a former KGB officer, you must have seen the interview. Do you think they look like GRU officers, as Theresa put it?

- You know, I didn't see or hear the interview. But this is something we discussed last week on your program, that was even before Putin's address. They're unlikely to be agents. And the way they carry themselves... Well, I can hardly judge by appearances, but their behavior was described by the British side. And it reveals that they're no agents. By the way, I've been saying this since March, from the very beginning: the Russian special services were unlikely to be embroiled in the story. It's another matter who they might actually be. There can be many options. I wouldn't draw any conclusions now over whether they committed a crime or not. It requires an in-depth investigation, which, by the way, Russia wants that even more than Britain does, because if it is about criminals, it means that they have access to toxic agents, which represents a threat to Russia first and foremost.