The Skripals were found unconscious on a bench at a shopping center in the UK city of Salisbury on March 4. Yulia Skripal regained consciousness in late March. The hospital confirmed her release on Tuesday, but her current whereabouts is unclear. The Sun newspaper has reported, citing a source, that Yulia had been transported to a hospital on the territory of a military base, while the BBC broadcaster said she had been brought to a "secure location."

The United Kingdom has accused Moscow of orchestrating the attack on the Skripals using a substance that belongs to the Novichok group of chemical weapons developed in the Soviet Union. Russia has denied the accusations.

The official UK position on the case has been reflected in multiple media stories. Colin Alexander, an assistant professor of political communications at Nottingham Trent University, warned that, while some news consumers look for different sources, many people tend to look for the outlets that simply confirmed their already existing point of view.

"Essentially, the people who want it to be Russia, will find news sources that will say 'it’s Russia'… The Russia angle fits a range of other foreign policy issues and political narratives that we have at the moment," the scholar said.

The much awaited release of Yulia Skripal from the Salisbury District Hospital after her poisoning with what UK experts say was the military-grade A234 nerve agent has made little impression on local residents, with the hospital appearing to operate business as usual.

Visiting Salisbury on Tuesday, a Sputnik correspondent found the city much as it was in the aftermath of the March incident. The two places visited by the Skripals hours before they were found unconscious — The Mill pub and Zizzi restaurant — where traces of the nerve agent were later found, were still sealed off to the public. The home of Sergei Skripal remains cordoned off as well.

The Daily Mirror newspaper reported that the staff at the two venues were recommended to burn their clothes that may have come into contact with a substance used to poison the Skripals.

The Mill's franchise Greene King was hesitant to confirm media reports claiming that the bar and restaurant were subject to demolition as a result of the contamination.

"It's our understanding that any definite decision has yet to be made. We fully support the police investigation [and] it may be the case that action might need to be taken, but at this stage in the investigation it's not really possible to say," a Greene King spokesman told Sputnik.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has stressed that demolition of any locations linked to the poisoning seemed aimed at destroying evidence.

Where Did Yulia Go

The Telegraph newspaper reported last week that the UK authorities were prepared to offer Sergei Skripal and his daughter the opportunity to participate in a witness protection program to guarantee their safety.

Yulia has Russian citizenship, but the Russian Embassy remains in the dark regarding the current state or whereabouts of the woman.

"Media reports that Yulia has left hospital for a 'secure location' cause concern as they mean that British authorities are continuing their policy of isolating her from the public, concealing important evidence and blocking an impartial and independent investigation," a spokesman for the Russian embassy said.

The spokesperson confirmed the Russian officials' "request and intention to meet her and see for ourselves if she is well."

"And at the very least, we demand an urgent proof that all actions in relation to Yulia are being taken in strict observance of her free will," the spokesperson concluded.

The UK Metropolitan police last Thursday issued an official statement on behalf of Yulia Skripal, saying that her strength was "growing daily." The statement called the incident "disorientating" and asked people to respect Yulia's privacy during the period of recovery.

The young woman's media silence is particularly noticeable, since her testimony could be crucial to what has become an international scandal.

The UK government's refusal to produce evidence to support its persistent claim that Russia is behind the poisoning could mean that either London has some information it cannot reveal or its stance is "a strategic plan," Alexander told Sputnik.

According to Alexander, Yulia Skripal's silence so far could be a sign of her unwillingness to be interviewed or "part of a strategic communications management strategy" of the UK authorities.

"It seems to me that the British government is working on an outdated communications strategy, because if you go on Facebook or Twitter, you see all those counter narrative to what the British government is saying. There’s a real lack of sophistication in how this is being handled," the expert said.

Gary Aitkenhead, chief executive of the UK government's Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), admitted last week that the nerve agent used to attack the Skripals could not be traced to any specific nation.

London responded by reiterating that Russia was responsible, stating that the DSTL's findings were only part of the intelligence the United Kingdom had. A few days later, the Times newspaper reported that the government knew Russia was behind the attack almost immediately after news of the attack broke.

The SkyNews broadcaster then released a video with Viktoria Skripal's address to UK Prime Minister Theresa May in which she asked the latter to allow her to come to the United Kingdom to visit her relatives. According to the broadcaster, Skripal intended to hand over her letter to May through the Russian Embassy.

Both the Home Office and Downing Street refused to respond to Sputnik on whether Viktoria had indeed personally written to May in an apparent bid to reverse the decision to deny her a visa.

Experts are optimistic about the recovery of Yulia and Sergei Skripal and their ability to shed some light on what happened in Salisbury, despite the warning by Christine Blanshard, medical director of the Salisbury hospital, that the intoxication led to sickness and hallucinations.

Dr. Alastair Hay, professor of environmental toxicology at the University of Leeds, argued that in the absence of brain damage, Yulia Skripal would still be able to speak coherently about what happened to her.

"I do not know what Yulia's exact mental status was but as long as there is no brain damage with a nerve agent a person's cognitive function is not impaired. So after regaining consciousness fully I am sure Yulia knew what she was saying," Hay told Sputnik.

However, the public may not learn the full truth about the poisoning for years to come.

"We’ll continue to have the drip, drip, drip of information… My feeling with these things is that you find out in ten to twenty years’ time," Alexander, a scholar from Nottingham Trent University, said.

The expert cited the UK participation in the foreign invasion in Iraq, which took place in 2003 as an example of an event covered in secrecy even years after it had happened.

"About 15 years later, we’re still not quite sure what happened. All we know is that what we were told in 2003 was happening was not what actually was happening," Alexander said.</s>Russia has said any secret resettlement of the spy poisoned in Salisbury and his daughter will be seen as "abduction".

The threat came hours after it was revealed Yulia Skripal has been discharged from hospital, five weeks after she and her father, Sergei Skripal, were found slumped on a bench in central Salisbury on 4 March after they were poisoned.

Having made a rapid recovery in recent days, Ms Skripal was discharged on Monday and taken to a secure location.

The Russian Embassy in London said that if the Skripals were resettled in the USA, Australia, Canada or New Zealand and offered new identities - as reported - it would be "another gross violation of international law".

A statement said: "With a secret resettlement of Mr and Ms Skripal all opportunities to hear their version of the events of 4 March will highly likely be lost forever.

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"The world, while having no opportunity to interact with them, will have every reason to see this as an abduction of the two Russian nationals or at least as their isolation."

Christine Blanshard, deputy chief executive and medical director at Salisbury District Hospital, said both Ms Skripal, 33, and her father, 66, have been responding well to treatment in the five weeks they have been in hospital.

She said they have received "round-the-clock" care and revealed that nerve agents cause hallucinations and sickness.

Image: Sergei Skripal and Yulia Skripal were found slumped on a bench in Salisbury on 4 March

Mr Skripal is making good progress and will be discharged "in due course" but is recovering more slowly than his daughter, she added.

They were contaminated by the nerve agent novichok, thought to have been smeared hours earlier on the handle of Mr Skripal's front door at his home on the edge of the city.

His daughter had arrived the day before on a visit from her home in Moscow.

For nearly a month both were in a critical condition, but they have recently made a remarkable recovery.

Reacting to the news Ms Skripal had been discharged, the Russian Embassy in London tweeted its congratulations but said it needed "urgent proof" that she was not being influenced.

We congratulate Yulia Skripal on her recovery. Yet we need urgent proof that what is being done to her is done on her own free will. — Russian Embassy, UK (@RussianEmbassy) April 10, 2018

Theresa May said: "Obviously I welcome the fact that Yulia Skripal has been discharged from hospital and I wish her the best for her continuing recovery."

When contacted on Tuesday morning Viktoria Skripal, Yulia's cousin, said she had only just heard, via the story broken by Sky News, that her cousin had been discharged.

She has since been trying to contact her.

"I think Britain will insist that she claims asylum," she said, adding: "I've tried lots of numbers for her but have had no response.

"How should I feel? I'm feeling pleased that she's well enough to be released from hospital.

"So far my feelings are unclear because I have not seen her and nobody has seen her, we've just had information."

Skripal cousin: 'I've heard nothing'

At the end of last week Viktoria Skripal said she had been denied a UK visa to travel to Salisbury to visit her cousin and uncle.

At the end of March, Prime Minister Theresa May said doctors indicated the Skripals "may never recover fully" as she announced that more than 130 people in Salisbury could potentially have been exposed to the nerve agent.

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 poisoning the family.

Russia has reacted by expelling other countries' diplomats and closing down the US consulate in St Petersburg - after Donald Trump closed the Russian consulate in Seattle</s>LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) - Yulia Skripal, who was poisoned in England last month along with her Russian ex-spy father, said on Wednesday (April 11) she has refused consular assistance from the Russian embassy.

Skripal was discharged from hospital on Monday, more than a month after the March 4 nerve agent attack in the English town of Salisbury which has sparked a global diplomatic crisis.

While her whereabouts are unknown, Skripal said she is being supported by police officers who are keeping her informed of their high-profile investigation.

"I have access to friends and family, and I have been made aware of my specific contacts at the Russian embassy who have kindly offered me their assistance in any way they can," she said in a note issued by London's Metropolitan Police.

"At the moment I do not wish to avail myself of their services, but, if I change my mind I know how to contact them," she added.

Yulia Skripal was visiting her father when the attack took place. Sergei Skripal was imprisoned in Russia for selling secrets to British intelligence in the 1990s but was exchanged in a spy swap in 2010.

London blames Moscow for the attack, an accusation vehemently denied by the Russian government which has requested access to the Skripals as Russian citizens.

The ex-spy's daughter said her father "is still seriously ill" and said she herself is "still suffering with the effects of the nerve agent used against us".

"Most importantly, I am safe and feeling better as time goes by," she added.

Responding to reports that the pair may be resettled, the Russian embassy to London said: "Secret resettlement of Mr and Ms Skripal, barred from any contact with their family, will be seen as an abduction or at least as their forced isolation."

Sergei Skripal's niece, Viktoria Skripal, has spoken to Russian media about the poisoning and last week saw her application to visit Britain rejected, with officials saying it did not comply with immigration rules.

Yulia Skripal on Wednesday cast doubt on her cousin's account, saying: "Her opinions and assertions are not mine and they are not my father's."

"I thank my cousin Viktoria for her concern for us, but ask that she does not visit me or try to contact me for the time being," she said.</s>Daughter of the poisoned Russian ex-spy Yulia Skripal has been discharged from a U.K. hospital, according to BBC and Sky News https://bloom.bg/2GNVVx6 #tictocnews (Source: Bloomberg)</s>The 33-year-old and her father Sergei, 66, were poisoned in Salisbury with a deadly chemical thought to have been ordered by Moscow more than a month ago. Her release was confirmed yesterday and her father's health is said to be improving at Salisbury District Hospital. The Russian embassy in London congratulated her on her recovery but said it needed "urgent proof that what is being done to her is done on her own free will". There were originally grave fears that former spy Mr Skripal and his daughter would not survive coming into contact with the military-grade nerve agent Novichok.

The hospital said the release of Ms Skripal marked a "significant milestone" but was not the end of her treatment. Milestone Announcing an update on the Skripals' conditions, Salisbury District Hospital medical director Dr Christine Blanshard said: "I want to take this opportunity to wish Yulia well. This is not the end of her treatment but marks a significant milestone." Dr Blanshard said of Mr Skripal: "Although he is recovering more slowly than Yulia, we hope that he too will be able to leave hospital in due course." Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey, who was also exposed to the nerve agent, was discharged from the hospital on March 22. Yulia has been released to a secure location amid the diplomatic fall-out. The Russian Embassy has repeatedly criticised the handling of the investigation into the attack and claims it remains concerned by a British refusal to grant Ms Skripal's cousin Viktoria a visa to visit her family.

The embassy said: "Secret resettlement of Mr and Ms Skripal, barred from any contact with their family, will be seen as an abduction or at least as their forced isolation." It last night issued a statement paying tribute to the NHS, saying: "We are genuinely happy for Yulia and wish her a further recovery and rehabilitation. The Embassy wants to pay tribute to the professionalism of the medical staff at the hospital in Salisbury. "At the same time, media reports that Yulia has left hospital for a 'secure location' cause concern as they mean that British authorities are continuing their policy of isolating her from the public, concealing important evidence and blocking an impartial and independent investigation. "We are convinced that details of the incident that Yulia could share would become a valuable contribution to the progress of the investigation." The Russians have made a formal request to the Foreign Office to meet Yulia.

Responding to yesterday's developments, Prime Minister Theresa May said: "Well obviously I welcome the fact that Yulia Skripal has been discharged from hospital and I wish her the best for her continuing recovery and I'd like to say a huge thank you to all the staff at the hospital in Salisbury who have looked after her and her father so well." Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov previously said it was "outrageous" that Britain had failed to provide consular access to Ms Skripal. Expulsion The embassy also issued what it termed "questions without answer" about the Skripal case - including whether the UK had ever produced Novichok nerve agent. Britain has said that Russian state involvement is the only plausible explanation for the attack, and has led a worldwide reaction involving the expulsion of more than 100 diplomats. Salisbury District Hospital said specialised decontamination techniques and a "variety of drugs" were used to treat the Skripals until they could reproduce the enzymes destroyed by the nerve agent. They had "round-the-clock care" which helped their "rapid" recovery, according to the hospital.</s>Any secret resettlement of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in the UK would be an “abduction”, the Russian embassy in London has said.

The former Russian double agent and his daughter were poisoned by a deadly nerve agent in Salisbury last month, and have been recovering in hospital for the last month.

On Monday, doctors announced Yulia had been released and taken to a secure location, raising questions about whether the 33-year-old would be resettled or granted asylum in the UK or US.

Soon after the announcement by the hospital, the Russian embassy said resettlement of the pair would be “another gross violation of international law”.

“The world, while having no opportunity to interact with them, will have every reason to see this as an abduction of the two Russian nationals or at least as their isolation,” a statement read.

The poisoning has triggered a diplomatic standoff between Britain, its allies and Russia in the last five weeks.

Last week Yulia Skripal was reported to have dismissed a Russian request for consular access to her. Her cousin, Viktoria, who has appeared on Russian state-owned television to discuss the case, said she had been denied a British visa to visit the pair.

The Sunday Times reported the pair would likely be given new identities and relocated, possibly to America.</s>Yulia Skripal has refused assistance from Russia since leaving hospital, after her home country claimed Britain had “abducted” her. A diplomatic battle has been raging between the two nations over whether the Russian embassy should be allowed access to the 33-year-old daughter of ex-spy Sergei Skripal, both of whom were poisoned with a deadly nerve agent last month. Yulia Skripal, who was found critically ill alongside her 66-year-old father on a bench in Salisbury, was discharged from hospital in Wiltshire this week. It is believed that British authorities immediately transfered her away to a secure location. The embassy reacted angrily to the news, suggesting in a series of tweets that the Russian national had been taken against her will and had been effectively “abducted’. However, it is understood that the offer of consular support from Russia was presented to Skripal – and rejected. She is believed to have expressed no interest in talking to consular officials. Russia remains the prime suspect for carrying out the attack on Skripal and his daughter.

A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: “We have previously passed on the Russian embassy’s offer of consular support to Yulia. “She is free to decide on whether she wishes to pursue that. To date, we understand she has not done so.” The Foreign Office escalated the war of words on Tuesday, saying in a series of statements posted on social media: “Secret resettlement of Mr and Ms Skripal, barred from any contact with their family will be seen as an abduction or at least as their forced isolation.” Skripal’s release from hospital was met with a similar broadside from the UK embassy, which has repeatedly criticised the handling of the investigation into the attack. In a statement, a spokesman said: “We congratulate Yulia on her recovery. “Yet we need urgent proof that what is being done to her is done on her own free will.”

Continuing the onslaught of scepticism on Wednesday morning, it suggested reports Skripal had turned down consular assistance actually revealed she is being “held hostage by the same people who destroy evidence and fail to come up with a single official account of the crime”. Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov previously said it was “outrageous” that Britain had failed to provide consular access to Ms Skripal as news of her improving condition was announced earlier this month. Her release from hospital was announced by Salisbury District Hospital medical director Dr Christine Blanshard on Tuesday. She said: “Both patients have responded exceptionally well to the treatment we’ve been providing. But, equally, both patients are at different stages in their recovery. “I want to take this opportunity to wish Yulia well. This is not the end of her treatment but marks a significant milestone.” She added: “Although he is recovering more slowly than Yulia, we hope that he too will be able to leave hospital in due course.” The former double agent was jailed in Russia for selling secrets to MI6 but was released as part of a spy swap deal in 2010 and settled in the UK. It is hoped he will soon be fit for release from hospital, despite grave fears that the exposure to military-grade nerve agent Novichok on March 4 would prove fatal. Britain has said that Russian state involvement is the only plausible explanation for the attack and has led a worldwide reaction involving the expulsion of more than 100 diplomats.</s>LONDON — The daughter of a Russian ex-spy who was poisoned with nerve agent along with her father has been released from hospital, British media reported Tuesday.

Yulia Skripal and her father Sergei were found unresponsive on a bench in Salisbury, southern England, on March 4.

Yulia, 33, was discharged from Salisbury District Hospital on Monday and taken to a secure location, the BBC reported.

"Yulia has now been discharged from Salisbury District Hospital. This is not the end of her treatment but marks a significant milestone," said Christine Blanshard, the hospital's medical director, in a statement Tuesday.

Sergei Skripal remains in the hospital. Blanshard said last week that the 66-year-old was "responding well to treatment” and “improving rapidly."

"Both patients have responded exceptionally well to the treatment we’ve been providing. But equally, both patients are at different stages in their recovery," Blanshard said Tuesday.

"Although he (Sergei) is recovering more slowly than Yulia, we hope that he too will be able to leave hospital in due course," she added.

The United Kingdom has blamed Russia for the Skripals' poisoning with Novichok nerve agent. The Kremlin denies any responsibility.

The Russian Embassy in London tweeted: "We congratulate Yulia Skripal on her recovery. Yet we need urgent proof that what is being done to her is done on her own free will."

Dozens of countries including Britain and the United States have expelled over 150 Russian diplomats because of the incident, while Russia has retaliated by expelling foreign envoys.</s>Yulia Skripal, who along with her father, an ex-Russian spy, was poisoned with a nerve agent in Britain last month, is being discharged from hospital, Sky News reported on Tuesday.

On Friday, doctors said the health of Yulia, 33, and her father Sergei Skripal had improved rapidly in the last few weeks after they were found unconscious on a bench on March 4 in the southern English city of Salisbury.

Britain says they were poisoned with a military-grade nerve agent and has blamed Russia for the attack. Moscow has denied any involvement in the incident which has plunged its relations with the West to a post-Cold War low.

Last week, Yulia Skripal issued a statement to say her strength was growing daily while her 66-year-old father is no longer in a critical condition.

Sky said unnamed sources had said Yulia Skripal had been due to be discharged from the hospital in Salisbury on Monday but could not confirm it had happened. It said a statement from doctors was expected later on Tuesday.

A spokesman for the hospital declined to comment.</s>The daughter of ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal has been discharged from hospital more than five weeks after the Salisbury poisoning.

Yulia Skripal has been allowed to leave Salisbury District Hospital in Wiltshire after making a remarkable recovery from the nerve agent attack.

It is believed the 33-year-old is now in a safe location.

Her former double agent dad, 66, remains hospitalised, but will hopefully also be released "in due course", hospital officials said this morning.

Speaking at a press conference, medical director Dr Christine Blanshard said both of the pair "have responded exceptionally well" to treatment.

She said they have received round-the-clock care from clinicians, but are at different stages, with Sergei "recovering more slowly than Yulia".

Scroll down for the hospital's full statement

Announcing the update on Yulia, Dr Blanshard said: "This is not the end of her treatment but marks a significant milestone."

She added that Sergei has "also made good progress".

"On Friday I announced he was no longer in a critical condition," she said.

"Although he is recovering more slowly than Yulia, we hope that he too will be able to leave hospital in due course."

Shortly after the update, the Russian Embassy said it needed "urgent proof" that the actions taken with Yulia are being "done on her own free will".

It tweeted: "We congratulate Yulia Skripal on her recovery. Yet we need urgent proof that what is being done to her is done on her own free will."

Doctors had previously said Yulia's health was quickly improving after she and Sergei were poisoned by the nerve agent Novichok last month.

Today, her family in Russia said they were "pleased" by the news of her discharge - but called on Britain to provide proof of it.

Her cousin, Viktoria Skripal, said that without such proof, she found the reports of her release "hard to believe" and difficult to "comprehend".

The 45-year-old said: "I heard news about her being discharged today, and my heart jumped. Have you seen her? How was she? No?

"Has anyone in fact seen her? They must let us see her."

She added: "I am so confused about the news.

"I wish I could see at least a glimpse of her leaving the hospital.

"Honestly I find it hard to believe it and can't quite comprehend it.

“I think I'll start believing it when I can at least see her, and better hug and see her face to face."

Viktoria claimed neither she nor her relatives had received a call or a message about Yulia's discharge.

In an interview with Sky News, she said: "I'm feeling pleased that she's well enough to be released from hospital."

But she added: "So far my feelings are unclear because I have not seen her and nobody has seen her, we've just had information."

Yulia and Sergei had been left fighting for their lives after being found slumped on a bench near a shopping centre in the cathedral city on March 4.

The pair were in a critical condition at the hospital for almost a month, but in recent weeks, medics said both of their health had improved rapidly.

And today, Dr Blanshard confirmed: "We have now discharged Yulia."

It understood the young woman was taken to a secure location after leaving hospital, according to the BBC.

While some reports have claimed the Skripals could be resettled in the US after their release, others say Yulia could seek political asylum in the UK.

Viktoria claimed today that the pair would not be safe if they end up being relocated to America, possibly with new identities.

"I can't say if it's safe for them in Russia or if it's safe for them to remain there (UK), but the unsafest place is America,” she said.

In an earlier interview, the cousin had said Yulia would seek asylum.

She claimed to have recorded a phone conversation with the young woman while she was still in hospital, according to Russia's RIA news agency.

Speaking to a Russian TV talk show, Viktoria reportedly said: "I know that Yulia Skripal's statement about political asylum is coming already."

Last week, Yulia had issued a statement via police, saying her strength was growing daily and she had received many messages of goodwill.

The news of her discharge from hospital comes after she was apparently recorded saying her father was "sleeping" and "resting".

In the unverified recording, sent to Russian state broadcaster Russia 1, she also apparently said "nobody has got anything they won’t recover from".

The recording was played at the same time as Yulia released an official statement via the Met Police, thanking Salisbury locals for coming to her aid and hospital staff for their "care and professionalism".

In the statement, released on Thursday, she said: “I woke up over a week ago now and am glad to say my strength is growing daily. I am grateful for the interest in me and for the many messages of goodwill that I have received.

“I have many people to thank for my recovery and would especially like to mention the people of Salisbury that came to my aid when my father and I were incapacitated. Further than that, I would like to thank the staff at Salisbury District Hospital for their care and professionalism.

“I am sure you appreciate that the entire episode is somewhat disorientating, and I hope that you’ll respect my privacy and that of my family during the period of my convalescence.”

Sergei, a former colonel in Russia's GRU military intelligence service who came to Britain in 2010, is also no longer in a critical condition.

On Friday, doctors said the father was "responding well to treatment, improving rapidly and no longer in a critical condition". But the Foreign Office has said the pair are likely go have "ongoing medical needs".

Yulia and Sergei's dramatic health improvements reportedly forced UK authorities to consider measures to protect them after their discharge from hospital.

And the authorities appear to have taken such measures, with Yulia apparently now in a safe place following her release.

Her father became a British citizen when he arrived in the country eight years ago as part of a high-profile spy swap. Neighbours have told of how he is a "quiet" man who dresses casually and drives a BMW.

The poisoning has sparked a major diplomatic row between Russia and the UK, plunging relations between the nations to an all-time low.

Britain says Yulia and Sergei were poisoned with a military-grade nerve agent and has blamed Russia for the attack.

However, Moscow has denied any involvement in the incident.

"My name is Dr Christine Blanshard and I'm the medical director here at Salisbury District Hospital. I am joined by Lorna Wilkinson our director of nursing.

"I want to give you an update on the progress of the two remaining inpatients that we are treating here at the Hospital - Sergei and Yulia Skripal.

"I will not be taking questions following this statement.

"Following the incident on March 4, Salisbury District Hospital received three people who required inpatient care - Sergei and Yulia Skripal and DS Nick Bailey, who was discharged on March 22nd.

"All three had been exposed to a nerve agent - a highly toxic chemical which aims to prevent the nervous system from functioning.

"In the four weeks since the incident in the city centre, both have received round the clock care from our clinicians, who've been able to draw in advice and support from world leading experts in this field.

"We've been keeping you updated on the condition of Yulia and Sergei, whilst respecting the right to privacy to which they - and all our patients - are entitled.

"While I won't go into great detail about the treatment we've been providing, I will say that nerve agents work by attaching themselves to a particular enzyme in the body which then stops the nerves from working properly. This results in symptoms such as sickness and hallucinations.

"Our job in treating the patients has been to stabilise them - ensuring that the patients could breathe and that blood could continue to circulate. We then needed to use a variety of different drugs to support the patients until they could create more enzymes to replace those affected by the poisoning.

"We also used specialised decontamination techniques to remove any residual toxins.

"Both patients have responded exceptionally well to the treatment we've been providing. But equally, both patients are at different stages in their recovery.

"We have now discharged Yulia from Salisbury District Hospital. Yulia has asked for privacy from the media and I want to reiterate that request.

"I also want to take this opportunity to wish Yulia well. This is not the end of her treatment, but marks a significant milestone.

"Her father has also made good progress. On Friday I announced that he was no longer in a critical condition. Although he is recovering more slowly than Yulia, we hope that he too will be able to leave hospital in due course.

"Finally, I want to pay tribute to the staff here at Salisbury District Hospital. The past few weeks have been enormously testing on all our staff. They have pulled together, not just to deliver outstanding care to the individuals caught up in these terrible events, but to all our patients as they do day in, day out. Both our clinical staff and our staff behind the scenes have been a credit to the hospital, to the NHS and to Salisbury as a city.
Yulia Skripal is released from hospital. Russia says it will view any resettlement efforts by the United Kingdom as "abduction."