Interview with Karinna Moskalenko

Yesterday the police in Strasbourg opened a criminal case, following the discovery in Russian lawyer Karinna Moskalenko’s car of a substance similar to mercury. On Tuesday the lawyer underwent a medical examination. She is cautious in offering a commentary and does not wish to anticipate the findings of the investigation.

How are you feeling?

Not very well, though not at death’s door. As they say in such cases, my condition is satisfactory. Just that I’m displaying all the symptoms of sickness.

When will the results of the medical examination be ready?

I was examined today but I don’t know when we’ll know the results. They let me go home. These were the forensic experts; they don’t have their own hospital. If it gets worse, they said, let us know.

How was the substance discovered?

My husband was cleaning out the car and noticed something glittering. He looked and found that there was some substance in different parts of the car’s interior. He’s a chemist so he immediately had his own idea. Until it has been determined what the substance is, however, I cannot name it. I can say it’s something similar to mercury. But that’s my opinion. I don’t know what the symptoms of mercury poisoning are; I’ve never come across it.

How much of the substance was in the car?

It’s all relative but in one place my husband collected a spoonful of the substance. The other drops we gave to the police, together with the car.

When will the tests be completed?

Yesterday I told the investigators all I know, and I don’t know very much. They know the job I do and were most attentive. When they will finish the tests I cannot say.

How long could this substance have been in the car?

We could not have failed to notice its glitter for a long time (there was quite a lot of it there). However, I cannot say for certain.