Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal is no longer in critical condition after being poisoned with a military-grade nerve agent in his home more than a month ago, a hospital official announced Friday.
“He is responding well to treatment, improving rapidly and is no longer in a critical condition,” Dr. Christine Blanshard, medical director at Salisbury District Hospital, said in a statement issued Friday.
Skripal’s 33-year-old daughter Yulia has improved to stable condition, but Blanshard would not share when she will be released from the hospital.
“Any speculation on when that date will be is just that – speculation. In the meantime, Yulia has asked for privacy while she continues to get better,” she added.
BREAKING: Hospital: Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, who was targeted by nerve agent attack in UK, is “improving rapidly and is no longer in critical condition.” pic.twitter.com/HXl7qNNxXs
— NBC News (@NBCNews) April 6, 2018
The two were found unresponsive on a bench at a shopping center in Salisbury, England, on March 4.
The British government believes the ex-Russian military official was purposely poisoned with a military-grade nerve agent that was originally developed by the Soviet Union.
The daughter had been visiting her father from her home in Russia at the time of the incident.
British Ambassador to the United Nations Karen Piece said the U.K. believes Russia is behind the attack. Russia has floated 24 theories of other ways the incident could have happened.
On Friday, the family’s two guinea pigs were also reported as having been found dead inside the home, according to the U.K. Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs. Skripal’s cat was euthanized by a veterinarian after being found in a “distressed state.”
Skripal served time in Russian prison for leaking the names of Russian secret agents to Britain’s MI6. He then moved to Britain per a spy-swapping deal Russia and the U.S. made.
