Illegals Program

President Vladimir Putin said on Sept. 12 that Russia knew the real identity of two men accused by British prosecutors of trying to murder former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Britain.

Britain is considering offering poisoned Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia new identities and a fresh life in the United States in an attempt to protect them from further murder attempts, the Sunday Times newspaper reported.

Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia had seemingly arrested former military intelligence officer Sergei Viktorovich Skripal in 2004 for acting as an agent for the British intelligence service. Moscow claimed that he had revealed his identity to the British foreign intelligence service - MI6 - in exchange of pecuniary and other benefits.

Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, who was convicted by Russia of betraying agents to British intelligence, was critically ill on March 5 after exposure to an unidentified substance in Britain, two sources close to the investigation told Reuters.

A Norwegian citizen suspected of espionage was arrested in Moscow. The arrest is for 2 months. Said Interfax, citing information from the spokesman of the Leftor Court in the Russian capital.