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Yulia Skripal Will 'Seek Political Asylum' - Cousin to Russian TV

On April 6 British authorities informed Viktoria Skripal that her application for a UK visa was turned down as she "did not comply with the immigration rules." The decision has been met with harsh criticism from Russian authorities, demanding an explanation.
Sputnik

The niece of the former Russian spy, Viktoria, has alleged during a Russian TV program on April 9 that she knew "there will be a statement by Yulia Skripal on political asylum."

She, however, did not specify from which country Yulia will be seeking asylum or explain how she got the information.

The claim has been made just days after Viktoria herself said that Yulia wanted to return to Moscow as "she has a life here, she has work here, and a loved one here."

READ MORE: LISTEN to COMPLETE Alleged Conversation Between Yulia Skripal and Her Cousin

The news comes as a shock amid media speculations concerning the future of both Sergei and Yulia Skripal, claiming that they might move to the US under new identities.

Yulia Skripal: I Woke Up Over a Week Ago and My Health is Improving
Earlier, Viktoria Skripal made headlines, when claiming on Russian TV that she had spoken with a woman, whom she believed was Yulia Skripal, just hours before police announced that she regained consciousness.

Yulia Skripal herself hasn't yet spoken with the press, though UK police issued a statement on her behalf last week, saying that she asked the public to respect the privacy of her and her family during her continued recovery.

Sergei and Yulia Skripal were found in critical condition in the British city of Salisbury after allegedly being exposed to a nerve agent. Both have recently regained consciousness and their health is improving. Russia has repeatedly requested consular access to its citizens and to the investigation into the "attack" on them, but all requests have been rejected.

Viktoria Skripal Wants to Tell Theresa May of the Hell She's Been Through Trying to Get a Visa

Addressing British PM Theresa May on a Russian TV program, Viktoria described the bureaucratic hell she went through when she applied for her UK visa. She noted that the process was tough for her family, including the mother of Sergei Skripal.

"I spent all last week gathering documents for the visa, traveling back and forth between Moscow and Yaroslavl in order to file additional papers. In order to get power of attorney I had to tell the 90-year-old mother of Sergei Viktorovich [Skripal] that he is in hospital. I didn't want to do so, so that she wouldn't worry too much," Viktoria said in her address.

She also expressed hope that "bureaucratic tricks" won't divide her from her relatives in Britain and asked Theresa May to reconsider her application personally, promising that she will gather all the necessary papers.

READ MORE: UK MI-6 Discussed With FBI Skripals' Moving to US Under New Identities — Reports

Sergei Skripal's niece Viktoria applied for the UK visa in order to visit her relatives in hospital, but her application was rejected. She has already addressed UK officials to grant her a visa, noting that her family should be together, not separated by what she called an "unprecedented political scandal."

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