The real identity of one of the two assassins, named by police as Ruslan Boshirov, is reportedly Colonel Anatoliy Vladimirovich Chepiga. He is said to appear in this photo (circled) with a group of fellow military graduates in Chechnya
Investigative website Bellingcat found Col Chepiga's passport photo from 2003 (left) and saw it bore a similarity to 'Ruslan Boshirov's' passport photo from 2009 (middle) and the one on his cover passport (right)
Daily Mail: Revealed: Smirking Salisbury 'hitman' is unmasked as decorated GRU colonel who was awarded Russian military's highest honour by Vladimir Putin after his service in Chechnya and Ukraine
* Spy named Ruslan Boshirov unveiled as Colonel Anatoliy Vladimirovich Chepiga
* Was charged with attempted murder alongside his accomplice Ruslan Boshirov
* Made Hero of Russian Federation by decree of Putin in a secret 2014 ceremony
* Seniority is another indication strike was ordered from top levels of government
* Gavin Williamson tweeted spy's identity was 'confirmed' then deleted message
The smirking Salisbury hitman wanted for poisoning Sergei Skripal has been unmasked as a decorated GRU colonel who was awarded the Russian military's highest honour by Vladimir Putin after his service in Chechnya and Ukraine.
The real identity of one of the two assassins, identified by police as Ruslan Boshirov, is reportedly Colonel Anatoliy Vladimirovich Chepiga, 39. He was made a Hero of the Russian Federation by decree of the president during a secret ceremony in 2014.
The disclosure, uncovered by investigative journalist organisation Bellingcat in conjunction with The Telegraph, exposes as lies Putin's claims that the Skripals' would-be killers were innocent 'civilians'.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: The Russian foreign ministry has responded .... Zakharova Says New Salisbury Claims Aim to Distract Public From the Incident (Sputnik). As to what is my take .... there are some similarities in the above photo, and some that are not. Therefore I leave it up to you .... the reader .... to decide.
More News On The Skripal 'Hitman' Being Unmasked As A Russian GRU Colonel
Skripal Suspect Boshirov Identified as GRU Colonel Anatoliy Chepiga -- Bellingcat
Skripal 'hitman' unmasked as GRU colonel awarded Russia's highest military honour by Vladimir Putin -- The Telegraph
GRU colonel Chepiga revealed as Skripal suspect's 'real identity' -- BBC
Salisbury poisoning suspect identified as Russian colonel -- The Guardian
Bellingcat identifies Skripal poisoning suspect as Russian colonel -- DW
UK investigative group: Spy poisoning suspect is GRU colonel -- AP
'True identity' of Salisbury suspect revealed, UK defense minister says -- Reuters
Salisbury poisoning suspect named as a Russian colonel by UK media -- Reuters
