‘A diabolical perfume of lies’: Russia makes novichok reference as it blasts claims its GRU agents were behind global cyber attacks on the West
Russian Foreign Ministry’s phrase referred to perfume in Salisbury poisonings
Country says new allegations are unworthy and part of disinformation campaign
GRU accused of launching a cyber attack on global chemical weapons watchdog
By MARK DUELL
DAILYMAIL.COM
4 October 2018
Russia today described British accusations that its spies were behind global cyber attacks as ‘a diabolical perfume of lies’.
The Russian Foreign Ministry’s phrase referred to the Salisbury poisonings earlier this year which saw the novichok nerve agent disguised in a fake perfume bottle.
Its spokesman Maria Zakharova said the new hacking allegations were unworthy and part of a disinformation campaign designed to damage Russian interests.
It comes after Russian intelligence service the GRU was accused of launching a cyber attack on a global chemical weapons watchdog probing the Salisbury attack.
Officials in the Netherlands where the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is based said four Russians had been expelled after a cyber strike.
UK intelligence helped thwart the operation, which was launched in April, a month after the Salisbury Novichok poisoning – which Russia also denies responsibility for.
But Ms Zakharova said today the accusations were the product of someone with a ‘rich imagination’, adding: ‘It’s some kind of a diabolical perfume cocktail.’
And a Foreign Ministry representative added: ‘Western spy mania is gathering pace.’
Asked about the UK’s accusations, a spokesman for the Russian embassy said: ‘This statement is reckless. It has become a tradition for such claims to lack any evidence.
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