RT airs interview with Russians accused in UK poisoning

RT, a Russian state-funded television station, on Thursday aired an interview with two men it claimed to be those accused of poisoning an ex-spy and his daughter in England earlier this year, Reuters reported.

The interview reportedly featured two men who physically resembled Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, who were charged with attempted murder and the use of military-grade nerve agent Novichok in the attack on former Russian agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury.

In a short clip, the two men claimed they were in the town for tourism, and that they may have been near Skripal’s house by chance without realizing it, Reuters reported.

{mosads}“Our friends had been suggesting for a long time that we visit this wonderful town,” one of the men said.

British officials announced charges against Petrov and Boshirov earlier this month. Prime Minister Theresa May said British intelligence concluded that the two men were officers for Russia’s military intelligence operation, GRU.

Russia has continued to deny involvement in the nerve agent attack on Skripal and his daughter, Yulia. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that the government had located the two men accused in the attack, but that there was “nothing criminal” about them.

The incident prompted an international response, with the United States, Britain and other European nations expelling numerous Russian diplomats.