Russian Denials

There are very few advanced intelligence services who get caught as often as the Russians.  This time it is in Salisbury, England where the police say they have identified the people who brought the poison bound for the attempted murder of Sergei and Yulia Skripal. 

The BBC article says  "They (the investigators) are sure they (the suspects) are Russian."  Now we have something of note.  If the suspects are Russian, and they are traced to the area where the poison was found (CCTV has already done that), then the denials of Russian involvement will be difficult.  That doesn't stop the most brazen of them from making denials anyway, even in private meetings where nobody else would know.  The President of the United States knows that all too well. 

The BBC story says this was done as a warning two weeks before the Russian elections.  That is not exactly subtle, but when have the Russians ever been?  It is in-your-face diplomacy more characteristic of the Mafia than a state government.