The EU sanctioned four Russians in the case of Russian double-agent poisoning, and Russia responded.

　　CCTV News:On the 21st, the European Union decided to sanction two senior officials and two agents of the Russian intelligence service for the poisoning of former Russian intelligence agent Krippahl and his daughter in Britain. In this regard, the Russian side refuted it, saying that the sanctions imposed by the EU are groundless.

　　According to the EU statement, the EU will freeze the assets of Kostiukov, director of the General Intelligence Department of the Russian General Staff, alekseev, deputy director, and two agents, Chepiga and mishkin, in EU member countries, and at the same time issue a travel ban against them.

　　The statement identified two agents, Chepiga and mishkin, who went to Britain in March last year and tried to kill Krippahl’s father and daughter with nerve agents. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy hunter said that the sanctions sent a signal to Russia that the EU "vowed to take tough measures to respond to Russia’s irresponsible behavior".

　　Russia: EU sanctions decision is "groundless"

　　The Russian side refuted this decision of the EU. Peskov, press secretary of the Russian President, said that the EU’s designation was "groundless" and Russia had not seen any evidence so far.

　　Previously, the British side had identified Chepiga and mishkin as Russian agents, who worked under pseudonyms for the General Intelligence Service of the Russian General Staff in Britain. The Russian side denied it, saying that the two were "civilians" and "no crime". The two men also said in an interview with the media later that their purpose of going to Britain was to travel.

　　Krippahl and her daughter were in a coma in the southern English city of Salisbury last March, and were discharged after receiving treatment. The British side decided that Russia should take responsibility and expel Russian diplomats. Russia accused Britain of "planting" and expelled British diplomats in equal numbers.