Novichok Poisonings, Russia's Alleged Role and British Reaction: Central Issues of the Inquiry
The Novichok nerve agent attack in the city of Salisbury in the English countryside during the spring of 2018 was an unprecedented incident that reverberated globally. The intended victim, former Russian agent Sergei Skripal, survived an brazen effort to kill him, but an bystander, a woman named Dawn Sturgess, tragically died. An public investigation was conducted last year, examining the poisoning of the Skripals, the actions of first responders, and the tragic circumstances that ensnared Sturgess. Below are several central issues it delved into.
The Identity of Dawn Sturgess?
Dawn Sturgess was a 44-year-old mother of three. On June 30, 2018, she and her partner, Charlie Rowley, became sick at his residence in a Wiltshire town called Amesbury. Tragically, Sturgess passed away on July 8, while Rowley survived but has experienced ongoing health problems. Initially, police thought it might be a drugs overdose. Soon after, it became clear they had been poisoned with the chemical weapon Novichok. It is believed Sturgess applied with the substance thinking it was a fragrance. Rowley is thought to have found a vessel containing the agent disguised as a perfume bottle and presented it to Sturgess. The inquiry heard that Sturgess was an unintended casualty of an unlawful foreign plot to kill.
Why Was a Vessel of Novichok Doing in South-West England?
On March 4, 2018, former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia Skripal, were attacked with Novichok at his home in Salisbury, seven miles south of Amesbury. Skripal had been settled in a suburban cul-de-sac after a spy exchange. Both became gravely sick but ultimately survived.
What Was the Motive for Targeting the Skripals?
The British authorities believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the attack on Sergei Skripal. A suggested motive offered is that Skripal possessed sensitive knowledge about the Russian president’s alleged financial crimes involving revenue from the metals industry. There have also been suggestions that Skripal continued to help intelligence services in the West after his alleged retirement from espionage. In the aftermath, the UK government expelled 23 Russian diplomats.
How Was the Attack on Skripal Carried Out?
British investigators believe a pair of operatives, using the aliases Petrov and Boshirov, smeared the nerve agent to the exterior door handle of the Skripals’ house in the early afternoon on March 4. When the Skripals left shortly afterwards to go out, they both touched the handle.
What Happened With the Container of Novichok Afterwards?
This remains a central mystery of the case. One suggestion is they may have used a small sealing device to reseal the container during a unaccounted-for period when they vanished from Salisbury CCTV and discarded it in a trash can. Rowley stated he thought he found the bottle in June, a few days before giving it to Sturgess. However, police think it more likely he came upon it soon after the Skripal poisoning. Detectives found CCTV footage appearing to show Rowley looking through rubbish in Salisbury on the day the Skripals fell ill. If that is correct, Rowley had the bottle for over three months and even relocated while possessing it. Yet, police have not been able to rule out the possibility of a second container, which has never been found.
How Dangerous Was the Novichok?
The inquiry was told it was of very high purity and had the potential for mass casualties. A expert witness stated that a “minuscule” amount – as small as a sixth of a grain of salt – might have caused death. After the poisonings, dozens of individuals self-presented at A&E worried about exposure. Several officers were affected, including DS Nick Bailey. Emergency services scrapped 24 vehicles they feared had come into contact with the poison.
Was Enough Done to Protect Sergei Skripal?
Sturgess’s family argues no. They assert that he was a “clear and obvious” target for the Russian state but was given insufficient security in Salisbury. Skripal is said to have refused security measures, even basic CCTV.
Could More Have Been Done to Protect the Public Following the Incident?
Again, Sturgess’s family holds this view. No public warnings about handling suspicious items that may have contained the poison were issued after the Skripal poisoning. The former chief medical officer for England, Dame Sally Davies, said she recalled clear memory of advising the public not to touch items near the scene in March 2018. However, there is no documentation of such a warning. A public warning was only given following the June incident.
Regarding the Performance of First Responders?
The assessment is mixed. There were many instances of great bravery by paramedics, firefighters and police officers. However, Wiltshire police has expressed regret for mistakenly labeling Sturgess as a drug user. Rowley was known to use drugs, but Sturgess did not.
Was Skripal Lucky to Survive?
Without a doubt. A first responder told the inquiry that he inadvertently administered Skripal atropine, a drug used for organophosphate poisoning, after a fortunate accident. This intervention potentially rescued Skripal’s life.
The Russian Stance
The Russian embassy in the UK has claimed there are many “unanswered questions” around the poisoning. It highlights claims that the Skripals' vehicle was spotted out on the morning in question and that their phones were deactivated for four hours. It also doubts the absence of cameras around the Skripal house. UK police have stated there have been a multitude of false leads in the case.
