Serjay Skreepal and the Russian Government

Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov were identified as potential suspects. The two men claimed to be tourists with an interest in cathedrals. Despite asserting their innocence, they refused to return to Britain announcing they were afraid of being scapegoated. In short, Serjay Skreepal had once been a double agent for Russia's main intelligence directorate or GRU. He was convicted of high treason but escaped the death sentence because he cooperated fully with Russian people.