Yulia Skripal, daughter of Russian former spy, discharged from Salisbury hospital after poisoning

Jane Onyanga-Omara | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Russian ex-spy's daughter leaves hospital Yulia Skripal, the daughter of poisoned former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, has been released from the hospital, and Russia is congratulating her. Veuer's Nathan Rousseau Smith has the story.

LONDON — The daughter of a Russian ex-spy who was poisoned with nerve agent along with her father has been released from hospital, British media reported Tuesday.

Yulia Skripal, 33, and her father Sergei were found unresponsive on a bench in Salisbury, southern England, on March 4.

"Yulia has now been discharged from Salisbury District Hospital. This is not the end of her treatment but marks a significant milestone," said Christine Blanshard, the hospital's medical director, in a statement Tuesday.

The daughter was taken to a secure location, the BBC reported.

Sergei Skripal, 66, remains in the hospital. Blanshard said last week that the he was "responding well to treatment” and “improving rapidly."

"Both patients have responded exceptionally well to the treatment we’ve been providing. But equally, both patients are at different stages in their recovery," Blanshard said Tuesday.

"Although he (Sergei) is recovering more slowly than Yulia, we hope that he too will be able to leave hospital in due course," she added.

The United Kingdom has blamed Russia for the Skripals' poisoning with Novichok nerve agent. The Kremlin denies any responsibility.

The Russian Embassy in London tweeted Tuesday: "We congratulate Yulia Skripal on her recovery. Yet we need urgent proof that what is being done to her is done on her own free will."

We congratulate Yulia Skripal on her recovery. Yet we need urgent proof that what is being done to her is done on her own free will. — Russian Embassy, UK (@RussianEmbassy) April 10, 2018

In a statement posted to the Russian Embassy in the U.K,'s website Tuesday, an embassy spokesperson said "the United Kingdom has been doing everything to prevent us from gaining access to the criminal file."

"Despite the fact that a criminal case regarding the poisoning of Yulia Skripal has been opened in Russia, our law enforcement agencies are unable to get necessary evidence as their British counterparts refuse to cooperate," the spokesperson said.

Dozens of countries including Britain and the United States have expelled over 150 Russian diplomats because of the incident, while Russia has retaliated by expelling foreign envoys.