Yulia Chopivskaya, from Ukraine, is the sole social media pal of Ruslan Boshirov – wanted by UK cops for the Salisbury poisoning.
But today, she sensationally claimed she only met him once, for about half an hour at a cafe in Prague around five years ago.
Yulia, aged around 30, told of the “nightmare” she faced today after Britain named a him a “spy” and suspected killer for the Russian military.
She says she has been inundated with demands to speak, but denies having seen him since that day.
Yulia said: “This is a nightmare."
What we know so far…
- Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov wanted over attempted Skripal hit
- Cops have not sought extradition but European Arrest Warrant issued
- Suspects caught on CCTV in Salisbury “moments before attack”, cops said
- Petrov and Boshirov stayed in City Stay Hotel, East London, during time in UK
- Cops discovered minute traces of Novichok in hotel room two months after attack
- Skripal Novichok brought into UK in Nina Ricci ‘Premier Jour’ perfume bottle
- Kremlin hit back at claims and denied Russian role in botched assassination
- Theresa May told MPs the suspects were Russian military intelligence officers
“I haven’t stayed in touch with this person and I don't know him.
“I deleted him from my friend's list."
Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov have been linked to the attempted hit on former MI6 mole Sergei and his daughter Yulia Skripal.
Cops have now issued a European Arrest Warrant for the pair.
Theresa May pointed the finger firmly at Russia’s President Vladimir Putin for signing it off.
Yulia said: "I don't know if this is a real last name or not.
‘"In 2013 or 2014 I met a guy who introduced himself as Ruslan, it was in Prague.
“Then he asked how to find me on Facebook and added me there.
TIMELINE OF EVENTS: How Novichok spread through Salisbury
Saturday, 3 March
- Around 2.40pm, Yulia arrives at Heathrow Airport on a flight from Russia.
Sunday, 4 March
- Sergei's car is seen in the area of London Road, Churchill Way North and Wilton Road about 9.15am
- About 1.30pm, Sergei's car is seen being driven down Devizes Road, towards the town centre.
- Ten minutes later, Sergei and Yulia arrive in Sainsbury's upper level car park at the Maltings. At some time after this, they go to the Bishops Mill Pub in the town centre.
- They dine at Zizzi Restaurant about 2.40pm.
- They leave Zizzi Restaurant about an hour later.
- Emergency services receive a report from a member of the public at 4.15pm and police arrive at the scene within minutes, where they find Sergei and Yulia extremely ill on a park bench near the restaurant.
Friday, June 29
- At around 12.20pm Charlie Rowley and Dawn Strugess are together at John Baker House in Salisbury.
- They then leave that venue and visit a number of shops in Salisbury before going to Queen Elizabeth Gardens.
- They return to John Baker House at around 4.20pm before catching a bus to Amesbury at approximately 10.30pm.
- The couple are then believed to have spent the night at an address on Muggleton Road, Amesbury.
Saturday, June 30
- At 10.15am, the South West Ambulance Service are called to an address on Muggleton Road, where Sturgess had been taken ill, and she was subsequently taken to hospital. Rowley was also present at the address at this time.
- At around midday, Rowley visits Boots the chemist on Stonehenge Walk in Amesbury and then returns to his address in Muggleton Road around half an hour later.
- At around 1.45pm Rowley visits the Amesbury Baptist Centre on Butterfield Drive and again returns home at around 3pm.
- At 6.20pm the South West Ambulance Service are called back to the address on Muggleton Road and Rowley is also taken to hospital.
Sunday July 8
- Police confirm Dawn has passed away, sparking a murder probe
Friday, July 13
- Cops reveal they found a bottle of Novichok inside the home of Salisbury victim Charlie Rowley
July 18
- Specialist officers search Queen Elizabeth Gardens in Salisbury, a park at the centre of the poisoning probe.
July 19
- Police are believed to have identified the suspected perpetrators of the Skripal attack.
- An inquest opens into the death of Ms Sturgess. Her body is formally released to her family for her funeral.
July 20
- Mr Rowley is discharged from Salisbury District Hospital after almost three weeks of treatment.
July 30
- The funeral of Ms Sturgess is held at Salisbury Crematorium.
August 8
- The US announces it will impose new sanctions on Russia in response to the nerve agent attack in Salisbury, issuing a a formal determination that Russia violated international law by poisoning the Skripals.
- The British Government welcomes the action, saying that it sends "an unequivocal message to Russia that its provocative, reckless behaviour will not go unchallenged".
“We chatted for half an hour maximum and said goodbye to each other at that very cafe.
“Since then I haven't seen him.”
His Facebook only has a street scene from Prague.
She did not recognise him from the picture released by police in London.
Boshirov appears to work for a Moscow company monitoring state contracts for purchasing medication, said a prominent Russian political insider.
The shocking development means Britain must significantly step its war in the shadows with the GRU, and across the globe, the PM also insisted – signalling the spy service is now Public Enemy No1.
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