UK Ex-Spy Poisoning: Russians charged as suspects say they were tourists

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02:40

British authorities aren't buying the story put forward by two Russians accused of carrying out a nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy and his daughter. The men appeared on television, admitting they were in Salisbury at the time of the attack. But they claim they went as tourists. Lucy Taylor reports from Moscow.

Britain said they were "military intelligence officers" ordered by the "highest levels of the Russian state". But in their first interview, Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Bashirov said none of that was true - and on the day ex- Russian spy Sergei and his daughter Yulia Skripal were poisoned in March they just happened to be in the area on holiday.

"Our friends have advised us for a while to visit this beautiful city."

(SIMONYAN ASKING OFF CAMERA): "Salisbury This beautiful town?"

"Yes. Yes."

RUSLAN BOSHIROVSUSPECT "This is a touristic city. They have a famous cathedral there. The Salisbury Cathedral. It is famous not only in Europe but all over the world I think. It is famous for its 123-metre spire, it is famous for its clock, the first clock that was invented in the world and which still works."

Their appearance was a surprise twist in a case which has already caused a global diplomatic row.

LUCY TAYLORMOSCOW "Many Russians believe their government's absolute denials. But this interview confirms some of the claims from the UK authorities. The men say they were in England, they did stay in that London hotel, and they did visit Salisbury - twice - on the weekend of the attack. But they said they had nothing to do with the attempted assassination of Sergei and Yulia Skripal.'

MIKHAIL FISHMANJOURNALIST "It's very difficult to believe in what these guys actually say. They just do not look like who they tell they are. If you are a normal kind of person you can't believe it, you can't just take it for granted."

Britain has called the state-funded RT interview, "obfuscation and lies". - but the two men appear to have the support of the Russian government.

MARIA ZAKHAROVARUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON "I have only one question. On what grounds are they (Britain) making these statements? Is that a political declaration? Why did they say that it's a lie? What exactly in it was a lie?"

Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov said they're scared and frightened and want government protection. They also want an apology from the UK for accusing them of espionage and murder - when they are, they insist, just two victims of a 'fantastical coincidence'. Lucy Taylor, CGTN in Moscow.