The recovery of poisoned spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia has raised hopes the pair could provide new clues to officers investigating the nerve agent attack in Salisbury.
It was revealed on Friday that the former Russian double agent was no longer in a critical condition and was responding well to treatment at Salisbury District Hospital, more than a month after he and Ms Skripal were found unconscious on a park bench in the Wiltshire city.
Hospital medical director Dr Christine Blanshard has dismissed talk of when they could be discharged as speculation, but with Ms Skripal now well enough to have issued her first statement since the attack, and her father said to be improving rapidly, they could soon be well enough to assist the investigation into how they were poisoned.
The remains of the 66-year-old’s two guinea pigs and cat, who died in the aftermath of the attack, were incinerated after being examined at Porton Down in case they had been contaminated.
Moscow, which continues to deny accusations that it was behind the attack, had asked the UK Government to provide information about the fate of the animals and suggested their incineration represented the disposal of an inconvenient piece of evidence.
Russia is also unhappy that the Home Office has refused to grant a visa to Ms Skripal’s cousin, Viktoria Skripal, who earlier this week told Russian TV that Yulia and her father could soon be allowed home.
But a Home Office spokesman has said the pair are likely to have ongoing medical needs.
This is a tribute to the hardworking and talented NHS staff in Salisbury who have provided outstanding care.
Let us be clear, this was attempted murder using an illegal chemical weapon that we know Russia possesses.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has also paid tribute to the work of staff at the hospital, and described the improvement in the Skripals’ condition as great news.