Russophobia and paranoia as a way to make good money. Sounds weird, almost absurd, but it's a growing trend in the UK. Several companies began offering official protection services against the vile Russian intelligence and the mysterious Hand of Moscow. The business is rather profitable. The target audience of their price lists aren't ordinary UK citizens but clients with a fat wallet. They seem to be so terrified by their media and politicians that they are ready to pay.
Alexander Khabarov with the details from the United Kingdom.
The CEO of a law firm in London has recently received a strange letter. The infamous picture of Alexander Litvinenko was printed on the envelope. Inside, there were enameled booklets in Russian and English with an offer to provide wide-range protection from radiation and cyber attacks of the Russian intelligence.
- You can get secretly attacked at any time, even in the center of London.
The services are offered by a German company. The equipment set costs 200,000 Euro. The owner of the company told us that more than 100 clients are already using his services.
Ulrich Schäffer, CEO of Schaeffer Physik: "They usually buy several sets together one for their London house, another to install on their yacht, and another one for their villa in Saint-Tropez".
Apart from the photos of Litvinenko, the booklet displays fresh photos from Salisbury reminding of the so-called Novichok. The list of potential threats includes poisoned flower bouquets and wine bottles contaminated with dangerous substances.
It's unclear whether these letters are a prank, the work of some lunatic or an odd marketing strategy. However, it's clear that this is the result of the growing anti-Russian hysteria in Europe; its level is off the charts. The world's gone mad.
Oleg Degtyarev, CEO of a law firm: "In 1949, the US Defense Secretary James Forrestal committed suicide shouting "the Russians are coming." We're living at an interesting time. The Russians are coming again".
British newspapers write about London preparing to deliver a cyber attack against Russia. The British military is conducting exercises with Russian tanks as their hypothetical targets.
Alexander Nekrasov, Political Analyst: "It's not just the beginning of a new Cold War but almost the beginning of a Hot War. Who could have imagined, that after the Cold War, we'll have another situation when officials openly tell the British that there will be a war with Russia and they should prepare for it. That's never happened before".
Russian clients of British banks have to go through special checking procedures. In the application form of the HSBC bank, businessmen have to write if they have any ties to Russia, which has been put in the same category as North Korean and Iran.
“Does the company have any current or planned exposure to Russia in the energy/oil and gas sector, the military, or defense, including any direct or indirect business activities relating to the region?”
Alexander Nekrasov, Political Analyst: “Many Russians have complained to me that they have troubles doing business here. Some of them can't open an account. Some of them are going to leave Britain because it's creating a hostile business environment.”
The British vigilantes don't bother to check or at least provide us with some facts.
"Vladimir Putin took aim at the West — GRU spies pulled the trigger". The author of this Sunday Times article journalist Mark Urban has recently published a book about Sergey Skripal. Urban is sure that he was poisoned by our military intelligence.
- Have you met him after the incident?
- I haven't.
- Do you know where he's now?
- I don't know.
The vapors of the toxic agents which the British chemists located in Salisbury instead of dissipating, seem to be concentrating.
Alexander Khabarov and Ilya Mordyukov, Vesti, Great Britain.
