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Poisoned former Russian spy Skripal out of hospital after 10 weeks

By Susan McFarland
Officials prepare a potentially contaminated vehicle for removal in Salisbury, Britain, after Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal and daughter Yulia were attacked with a nerve agent on March 4. Sergei Skripal was released from the hospital Friday. File Photo by Martin Jones/EPA-EFE
Officials prepare a potentially contaminated vehicle for removal in Salisbury, Britain, after Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal and daughter Yulia were attacked with a nerve agent on March 4. Sergei Skripal was released from the hospital Friday. File Photo by Martin Jones/EPA-EFE

May 18 (UPI) -- Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, who was poisoned with his daughter by a nerve agent in Britain more than two months ago, has been released from a hospital.

Skripal and daughter Yulia were hospitalized March 4 after coming into contact with the agent while in a British shopping district in Salisbury. He was released Friday.

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Hospital nursing director Lorna Wilkinson said treating the Skripals was "a huge and unprecedented challenge."

"This is an important stage in his recovery, which will now take place away from the hospital," she said.

Skripal, 66, spent the majority of his hospitalization in intensive care. Investigators said he was poisoned with the Soviet-era nerve agent novochok.

Yulia Skripal, 33, was discharged last month.

The case set off international controversy, with Britain, the United States and other Western nations blaming the Kremlin -- and specifically Russian President Vladimir Putin -- for ordering the attack on the former double agent. Russia has denied responsibility.

The row seriously inflamed tensions and led to the expulsions of numerous diplomats from Russia, Britain and the United States. U.S. officials also closed the Russian Consulate in Seattle.

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British officials say Russia had monitored the emails of Yulia Skripal for at least fie years. British national security adviser Mark Sedwill outlined the spying in a letter to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in April.

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