A Russian entrepreneur has capitalized on the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain by releasing a brand of cooking oil named after the nerve agent that was allegedly used in the attempted assassination.
London blames Moscow for poisoning ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury last month with a Novichok-class nerve agent believed to have been developed in the Soviet Union. Russia denies responsibility and has accused Britain of whipping-up anti-Russian hysteria.
“I regularly watch the news,” Ulyanovsk region-based farmer Alexei Yakushev said in explaining how he came up with the name for his new brand of sunflower oil.
“I liked this product very much and couldn’t find it anywhere in stores, so I decided to make it myself,” Yakushev said in a YouTube video posted on Thursday.
The Novichok oil will be marketed under the motto “products for a long life,” together with a logo bearing KGB insignia.
“We don’t hide money offshore,” the farm’s About Us page reads in rhyme.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
