Ex-Russian spy Skripal discharged from UK hospital

London [UK], May 18 (ANI): Former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal, who was poisoned by a nerve gas agent in March, was on Friday discharged from the Salisbury District Hospital after "recovering fully" in two months.
Lorna Wilkinson, the director of nursing at the hospital, confirmed Skripal's release and said, "This is an important stage in his recovery, which will now take place away from the hospital. Treating him and the other two people poisoned by this nerve agent, while still providing outstanding care to the other patients who rely on our hospital, has been a huge and unprecedented challenge that I'm proud our staff at Salisbury Hospital have risen to," the UK Press Association quoted her as saying, citing CNN.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin wished the former spy "good health", while questioning the nature of the poisoning incident.
"I heard from the media about Skripal today. I wish him good health, we are very happy, actually. But I have a few thoughts on this. First, I think that if a military-grade poisonous substance was used, as our British colleagues claim, this person would've died right there on the spot. A military-grade poisonous substance is so powerful that the person dies within seconds or minutes," Putin said.
He added that Russia had initiated a request to help the UK authorities in the investigation, but no response has been made so far.
"We repeatedly offered UK authorities our help, and we asked to be given access to the investigation, but there is no response. Our offer stands," Putin stressed.
According to the British government, Skripal and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia were exposed to a military-grade nerve agent in the British city of Salisbury on March 4. Both were admitted to the Salisbury hospital in an "extremely critical" condition.
In April, Yulia was able to recover from the attack and gave her first public statement to the media. She expressed her gratitude towards the people of Salisbury to offer emotional support to her and her family.
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on April 12 backed Britain's findings that the "high purity" Novichok was used to poison Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury.
The Hague-based watchdog, without mentioning Novichok, in a statement says that its experts, "confirm the findings of the United Kingdom relating to the identity of the toxic chemical that was used in Salisbury and severely injured three people."
The poisoning of the Skripals prompted nearly 30 countries to expel more than 150 Russian diplomats in solidarity with the UK after it blamed Russia for plotting the attack.
Moscow then retaliated by expelling diplomats from other countries and closing down the US consulate in St. Petersburg. (ANI)