UK's May says "highly likely" Russia responsible for poisoning of ex-spy

[badger2]

Some USMB prisoners would do well to get off the VX kick. That's not what it was.

 

[waltky]

What are nerve agents and what do they do?...

Russian spy: What are Novichok agents and what do they do?
13 Mar.`18 - A former Russian spy and his daughter were poisoned by a chemical that is part of a group of nerve agents known as Novichok, UK Prime Minister Theresa May has said.

Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia remain critically ill after the attempted murder in Salisbury on 4 March. The chemical was identified by experts at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) at Porton Down. So what do we know about this group of military-grade nerve agents.

1) They were developed in the Soviet Union

The name Novichok means "newcomer" in Russian, and applies to a group of advanced nerve agents developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s. They were known as fourth-generation chemical weapons and were developed under a Soviet programme codenamed "Foliant". In 1999, defence officials from the US travelled to Uzbekistan to help dismantle and decontaminate one of the former Soviet Union's largest chemical weapons testing facilities. According to a senior defector, the Soviets used the plant to produce and test small batches of Novichok. These nerve agents were designed to escape detection by international inspectors.

2) They are more toxic than other agents

One of the group of chemicals known as Novichoks - A-230 - is reportedly 5-8 times more toxic than VX nerve agent. "This is a more dangerous and sophisticated agent than sarin or VX and is harder to identify," says Professor Gary Stephens, a pharmacology expert at the University of Reading. VX agent was the chemical used to kill the half-brother of Kim Jong-un last year, according to the US. A number of variants of A-230 have been manufactured. One of these experimental chemicals - A-232 - was reportedly used by the Russian military as the basis for a chemical weapon, known as Novichok-5.

3) Novichoks exist in various forms

While some Novichok agents are liquids, others are thought to exist in solid form. This means they could be dispersed as an ultra-fine powder. Some of the agents are also reported to be "binary weapons", meaning the nerve agent is typically stored as two less toxic chemical ingredients. When these are mixed, they react to produce the active toxic agent. This makes the ingredients easier to transport, handle and store as they only become fully toxic when mixed. "One of the main reasons these agents are developed is because their component parts are not on the banned list," says Professor Stephens. "It means the chemicals that are mixed to create it are much easier to deliver with no risk to the health of the courier."

4) Some can take effect very quickly

The Novichoks were designed to be more toxic than other chemical weapons, so some versions would begin to take effect rapidly - on the order of 30 seconds to two minutes. The main route of exposure is likely to be through inhalation, though they could also be absorbed through the skin. However, in powder form an agent might take longer to act.

5) The symptoms are similar to those of other nerve agents

It is thought Novichok agents have similar effects to other nerve agents. This means they act by blocking the messages from the nerves to the muscles, causing a collapse of many bodily functions. Symptoms include white eyes, as the pupils become constricted, convulsions, drooling and, in the worse cases, coma, respiratory failure and death. These agents primarily cause a slowing of the heart and restriction of the airways, leading to death by asphyxiation. Some Novichok variants have been specifically designed to resist standard nerve agent antidotes. If a person is exposed to it, their clothing should be removed and their skin washed with soap and water. Their eyes should be rinsed and they should be given oxygen.

What are Novichok nerve agents?

 

[badger2]

On another thread, we have already mentioned Mirzayanov, one of the developers of "Novice" (Ru. novichok). We are in the process of translating a Russian report, forthcoming. Note that Mirzayanov lives in the U.S. and that Skripal is linked to MI6's Christopher Steele.

 

[Tilly]

These Brits are so damned close mouthed with their evidence during an investigation. Don't they have leakers over there? I'm curious as to how the nerve agent was delivered. If it was in their food, would there have been traces in the restaurant AND the pub that would cause the police to tell everyone who had been there to wash their clothes and take a good shower? Sounds more like it was on someone's clothing.
I hope the poor people recover. Maybe they can or are helping put together what happened.

There were traces found in both places and the police already issued guidance.

 

[Tilly]

Before escalating this affair it would be great if May would actually play by the rules and allow the Russians to analyse a sample and see what they say and how they ‘cooperate’.


...In a series of tweets the Russian embassy in the UK said: “Moscow will not respond to London’s ultimatum until it receives samples of the chemical substance to which the UK investigators are referring.

“Britain must comply with the Chemical Weapons Convention which stipulates joint investigation into the incident, for which Moscow is ready.


'Don't threaten a NUCLEAR power' Putin REJECTS British ultimatum on Russian spy attack

 

[EvilEyeFleegle]

Before escalating this affair it would be great if May would actually play by the rules and allow the Russians to analyse a sample and see what they say and how they ‘cooperate’.


...In a series of tweets the Russian embassy in the UK said: “Moscow will not respond to London’s ultimatum until it receives samples of the chemical substance to which the UK investigators are referring.

“Britain must comply with the Chemical Weapons Convention which stipulates joint investigation into the incident, for which Moscow is ready.


'Don't threaten a NUCLEAR power' Putin REJECTS British ultimatum on Russian spy attack

I agree..samples should be provided..but I would point out..that Great Britain is also a Nuclear Power..with multiple, robust delivery systems and firm NATO allies.

Just saying..this is not someone who Russia can just push around.

 

[badger2]

'Rossiia, po slovam glavy MID Sergei Lavrov, ne namerena otvechat' ultimatumy do tekh por, poka ne budet oznakomlena s materialami sledstviia.
Russia, according to Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, does not intend to respond to ultimatums until it becomes acquainted with the materials of the investigation.

Kakaia-libo ofitsial'naia informaatsiia ob otravliaiushchikh veshchestvakh semeistva "Novichok"v otkrytkh istochnikakh otsutsvuet, odnako, po dannym Vila Mirzianova, odin iz ego variantovmozhno poluchit's pomoshch'iu obychnikh organophosphatnykh soedinenie, izgotavlivaemykh na khimzavodakh po proizvodstvu udobrenii ili pestitsidov.
There is no official information on the poisoning substance of the novichok family in open sources, however, according to Vil Mizayanov, one of its variants can be obtained with the help of conventional organophosphate compounds manufactured at chemical plants for the production of fertilizers or pesticides.

Eto,kak otmechal uchenyi, pozvoliaet skryto sozdavat'khimicheskoe oruzhie v obkhod konventsii o ego zaprete.
This, the scientist noted, makes it possible to covertly create chemical weapons, bypassing the convention on its prohibition.'
(13 Mar 2018 Lenta-ru Skripalia obrekli na mucheniia do kontsa zhizni)

 

[EvilEyeFleegle]

'Rossiia, po slovam glavy MID Sergei Lavrov, ne namerena otvechat' ultimatumy do tekh por, poka ne budet oznakomlena s materialami sledstviia.
Russia, according to Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, does not intend to respond to ultimatums until it becomes acquainted with the materials of the investigation.

Kakaia-libo ofitsial'naia informaatsiia ob otravliaiushchikh veshchestvakh semeistva "Novichok"v otkrytkh istochnikakh otsutsvuet, odnako, po dannym Vila Mirzianova, odin iz ego variantovmozhno poluchit's pomoshch'iu obychnikh organophosphatnykh soedinenie, izgotavlivaemykh na khimzavodakh po proizvodstvu udobrenii ili pestitsidov.
There is no official information on the poisoning substance of the novichok family in open sources, however, according to Vil Mizayanov, one of its variants can be obtained with the help of conventional organophosphate compounds manufactured at chemical plants for the production of fertilizers or pesticides.

Eto,kak otmechal uchenyi, pozvoliaet skryto sozdavat'khimicheskoe oruzhie v obkhod konventsii o ego zaprete.
This, the scientist noted, makes it possible to covertly create chemical weapons, bypassing the convention on its prohibition.'
(13 Mar 2018 Lenta-ru Skripalia obrekli na mucheniia do kontsa zhizni)

The SODDI Defense.

Some Other Dude Did It.

 

[badger2]

https//www.lenta.ru/news/2018/03/13/muka/
'....nervno-paraliticheskim veshchestvom seistva "Novichok,"....ne smogut vyzdorovet'.
by the neuro-paralytic substance "Novichok"....will never be able to recover.

Takoe mnenie vyskazal prozivaiushchii v SShA sovetskii khimik Vil Mirzaianov, schitaiushchiisia odnim iz razrabotchikov etogo otravliaiushchego veshchestva.

chto nepodaliku ot Solsberi nakhoditsia voennaia nauchno-tekhnologicheskaia laboritoriia Proton Daun, gde khranitsia antidot.
suvrive only because there is a military scientific-technological laboratory at Porton Down, near Salisbury, where the antidote is 'stored.

 

[DigitalDrifter]

Wow, a con placing blame on Russia.

And you guys with your president laughed when Romney said Russia was the biggest geopolitical threat in the world.

 

[badger2]

For the second paragraph, above:

' Such an opinion was expressed by the Soviet chemist Vil Mirzayanov, who lives in the U.S., and who is considered one of the developers of this poisonous substance.'

Our initial intuition about Porton Down is substantiated by Mirzayanov, and where in the U.S. is yet unknown.

 

[badger2]

In post #27 is Mirzayanov referring to the Wyoming convention?

 

[badger2]

Another clue to barley is that the founding of CRISPR was due to viruses attacking bacteria. This study is from Georgetown University Medical Center and the Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction, Washington, D.C.

Why Gene Editors Like CRISPR/Cas May be a Game-Changer for Neuroweapons
Why Gene Editors Like CRISPR/Cas May Be a Game-Changer for Neuroweapons. - PubMed - NCBI

 

[badger2]

When combining organophosphate with atropine, a Pubmed search brings up nerve agents, so atropine may possibly be the novichok antidote stored at Porton Down:

Organophosphate / Atropine
Oxidative stress in organophosphate poisoning: role of standard antidotal therapy. - PubMed - NCBI
'....diazepam....'

Chinese do not metabolize diazepam very well, and would correspond with the development of nerve agents.

Combining streptomycetes and barley, there is....

Novichok
[Variety-specific actinomycete complexes associated with barley roots in soddy podzolic soil]. - PubMed - NCBI

Combining streptomycetes and toxin, there is....

Tuscaloosa: Neurodegenerative Compound-Producing Soil Streptomyces
The Prevalence and Distribution of Neurodegenerative Compound-Producing Soil Streptomyces spp. - PubMed - NCBI
'....dopaminergic neurodegeneration.'

 

[EvilEyeFleegle]

When combining organophosphate with atropine, a Pubmed search brings up nerve agents, so atropine may possibly be the novichok antidote stored at Porton Down:

Organophosphate / Atropine
Oxidative stress in organophosphate poisoning: role of standard antidotal therapy. - PubMed - NCBI
'....diazepam....'

Chinese do not metabolize diazepam very well, and would correspond with the development of nerve agents.

Combining streptomycetes and barley, there is....

Novichok
[Variety-specific actinomycete complexes associated with barley roots in soddy podzolic soil]. - PubMed - NCBI

Combining streptomycetes and toxin, there is....

Tuscaloosa: Neurodegenerative Compound-Producing Soil Streptomyces
The Prevalence and Distribution of Neurodegenerative Compound-Producing Soil Streptomyces spp. - PubMed - NCBI
'....dopaminergic neurodegeneration.'

You're having a wonderful conversation with yourself....Somehow I doubt most here are interested...Like they might be in this:

Nikolai Glushkov, Russian Exile Linked To A Putin Critic, Dies In London


Nikolai Glushkov, a Russian exile who was a close friend of a noted critic of President Vladimir Putin, has died from an "unexplained" cause in London, police say. The Metropolitan Police says that its counterterrorism unit is handling the case "because of associations that the man is believed to have had."


Glushkov, 68, was a close friend of Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky, a prominent critic of the Kremlin who was found dead in 2013. At the time, an inquiry found he had hanged himself — but Glushkov publicly disputed the idea that his friend and former business ally would have killed himself.


As British media began reporting Glushkov's death, the police issued a statement saying, "An investigation is underway following the death of a man in his 60s in Kingston borough."



The Two-Way

Britain Gives Russia 'Until Midnight' To Explain Use Of Nerve Gas

The London Ambulance Service had called police after being summoned to a house in New Malden, where the man was found dead.


"The death is currently being treated as an unexplained," police said, adding that the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command is leading the investigation as a precaution.


Police said that they believe they know the man's identity and that his family has been notified, but that officials are still awaiting a formal identification.


Glushkov's death comes a week after former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, were found poisoned in Salisbury, England. Officials in the U.K. say they were the victims of a Russian-engineered nerve agent. The father and daughter remain in critical condition, and British Prime Minister Theresa May has demanded answers from Russia about how the lethal Novichok nerve agent came to be used on U.K. soil.


"There is no evidence to suggest a link to the incident in Salisbury," police said day, as they announced the investigation into Glushkov's death.


Of the Skripal case, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said, "the use of this nerve agent would represent the first use of nerve agents on the continent of Europe since the Second World War."


Russian officials have rejected the idea that their government is responsible for the attack on Skripal. On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said such claims were "nonsense."


Still, the poisoning and now the unexplained death have resurfaced talk of what many see as a pattern of Russians who run afoul of the Kremlin and later die under suspicious or criminal circumstances.



The Two-Way

Former Putin Aide Died Of 'Blunt Force Injuries' In D.C., Medical Report Says

Just two years ago, the official report emerged about the death of Mikhail Lesin, a former Russian press minister and Putin adviser, whose death had originally been reported by Russian media outlets as the result of a heart attack — despite the fact that Lesin had died in a hotel in Washington, D.C., and that his death was eventually ruled to have been caused by "blunt force injuries." The manner of death was classified as "undetermined."


Another notable case involved Alexander Perepilichny, a Russian banker turned whistleblower who died during a jog near his home in Surrey. As NPR's Mary Louise Kelly reported, "Traces of a rare, poisonous flowering plant were found in his stomach."


As a close associate of Berezovsky, Glushkov was linked to one of the most successful of Russia's oligarchs to emerge from the collapse of the Soviet Union. Berezovsky had been an early ally of Putin — but their relationship changed drastically, culminating in the tycoon leaving Russia and being locked in a multi-billion-dollar legal battle with another oligarch, Roman Abramovich, over proceeds from the Sibneft oil company. That dispute was eventually settled in Abramovich's favor.


Describing the suspicions around Berezovsky's death in 2013, the Financial Times reported:


"He had, after all, long claimed President Putin ordered the 2006 poisoning with radioactive polonium-210 of one of Berezovsky's protégés, Alexander Litvinenko, the former KGB agent. He was set to be a witness in a potentially explosive inquest in October into Litvinenko's death."


Glushkov refused to believe there had been no foul play in Berezovsky's demise — particularly as it came years after the death of another ally, the Georgian billionaire Badri Patarkatsishvili, who had died of an apparent heart attack in Surrey.


"You have the deaths of Boris and Badri over a short period of time. Too many bodies are happening. I would say this is a little bit too much," Glushkov told The Guardian in 2013. He added that the list of prominent Russians who opposed Putin was continuing to shrink: "I don't see anyone left on it apart from me."


Berezovsky also controlled the Aeroflot airline — and Glushkov ran it for him. They were accused of embezzling from the enterprise, and in 2007, a Russian court ordered them to repay millions of dollars. But by then, Berezovsky had moved to London. Glushkov wasn't as fortunate; he served five years over money laundering and fraud, The Guardian reports, before following Berezovsky to England several years later.

 

[Political Junky]

Wow, a con placing blame on Russia.

And you guys with your president laughed when Romney said Russia was the biggest geopolitical threat in the world.

And Trump and Trumpettes are rooting for Russia.

 

[badger2]

We hope that most don't read badger's posts.

There is only one entry for Mirzayanov at Pubmed, and it is a female worker for breast cancer:

Mirzaianova / Breast Cancer
[Glycoproteins of tumor and normal tissue of the human breast]. - PubMed - NCBI

Linking barley streptomyces to novichok neurotoxin and its antidote is much less easy, though one trajectory is here:

A second entry under the combined search, streptomycetes{AND]toxin, there is

Thaxtomin A Induced Scopoletin Biosynthesis
Streptomyces scabiei and its toxin thaxtomin A induce scopoletin biosynthesis in tobacco and Arabidopsis thaliana. - PubMed - NCBI

Any organic chemist knows quite well what we have done, because its a common pathway of synthesis in the Solanaceae. Thus, the next step is to search, 'scopoletin[AND]atropine,' which yields....

Cynodon
Study on the mechanism of the bronchodilatory effects of Cynodon dactylon (Linn.) and identification of the active ingredient. - PubMed - NCBI

As other readers know, we have already linked Cynodon to the anti-cancer producing-compounds of spirilla which are associated with its roots, on the Aldo Leopold thread.

 

[TyroneSlothrop]

Wow, a con placing blame on Russia.

And you guys with your president laughed when Romney said Russia was the biggest geopolitical threat in the world.

And Trump and Trumpettes are rooting for Russia.

The UK is now demanding the US Government expel Agent Orange , a Putin Operative in the Oval Office ...
U.K. Expels 23 Russian Diplomats

 

[Balancer]

I wrote this in my topic, but here too I will repeat

---

On the eve of the assassination attempt on the traitor, a brooding FSB officer stood in front of a table of boards on a secret appearance in Salisbury. On the table were laid out:

- potassium cyanide
- strychnine
- British spy poison from the number of seized earlier
- hatchet from the nearest wood-burning barn
- a black market gun in the East End, missing from the radar ten years ago
- homemade bomb
- bayonet knife
- Banana

- and, finally, a unique nerve agent, developed in the USSR in the 1980s.

"Well, of course!" — slapped an officer on his forehead. "Only with the help of a unique Soviet toxic agent can I cover up the tracks leading to Russia!" Then he grabbed a tube of poison, straightened his hat with a star on his head and went out into the morning Salisbury, mixing with the crowd.

 

[badger2]

Stupid. Fixating on Jews? Berezovsky's hands were not tied when he hung himself. Family hits are taboo, as has already been posted. Porton Down's yellow journalism then goes to another death to mystify and complexify the scenario.