Russia monitored poisoned spy's daughter's emails for years, British intelligence says

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/04/13/russia-monitored-poisoned-spy-daughter-yulia-skripal-emails-years/514029002/

LONDON — Russia monitored emails for at least five years of the daughter of a Russian former spy who was poisoned in England last month, a British intelligence official said in a newly-released document. Mark Sedwill, the United Kingdom’s national security adviser, made the allegation in a letter to NATO secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg. The British government made the letter public Friday.

Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, were found unresponsive on a bench in Salisbury, southern England, on March 4. Britain says they were poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok and blames Russia. The Kremlin denies any involvement.

“I would like to share with you and Allies further information regarding our assessment that it is highly likely that the Russian state was responsible for the Salisbury attack,” Sedwill wrote in the letter.

“Only Russia has the technical means, operational experience and the motive. ...There is no plausible alternative explanation.”