Novichok Poisonings, Russia's Alleged Role and UK Response: Key Questions of the Investigation
The poisoning incident involving Novichok in Salisbury in south-west England during March 2018 was an extraordinary event that reverberated globally. The targeted man, former Russian agent the ex-spy Sergei Skripal, recovered from an brazen effort to kill him, but an bystander, Dawn Sturgess, lost her life. An public investigation was held last year, probing the poisoning of the Skripals, the response of emergency services, and the fatal sequence of events that ensnared Sturgess. Below are several central issues it explored.
Who Was Dawn Sturgess?
The victim, Dawn Sturgess was a 44-year-old mother of three. On June 30, 2018, she and her partner, Charlie Rowley, fell ill at his home in Amesbury, Wiltshire. Sturgess died on 8 July, while Rowley survived but has suffered ill health since. At first, police believed it was a drugs overdose. Soon after, it became clear they had been poisoned with the nerve agent novichok. It is believed Sturgess applied with the novichok believing it was perfume. Rowley is believed to have discovered a vessel containing the agent made to look like perfume and presented it to Sturgess. The inquiry heard that Sturgess was caught “in the crossfire” of an unlawful foreign plot to kill.
What Was a Container of Novichok Doing in South-West England?
On March 4, 2018, former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia Skripal, were poisoned by novichok at his home in Salisbury, seven miles south of Amesbury. Skripal had been settled in a suburban cul-de-sac after a prisoner swap. Both became gravely sick but managed to survive.
Why Were the Skripals Targeted?
The UK government believe that Vladimir Putin approved the attack on Sergei Skripal. One theory offered is that Skripal possessed sensitive knowledge about the Russian president’s “criminal embezzlement” involving revenue from the metals industry. There have also been indications that Skripal continued to help intelligence services in the West after his supposed retirement from espionage. In response to the attack, the UK government ordered out 23 Russian diplomats.
What Form Did the Attack on Skripal Carried Out?
British investigators believe two Russian agents, using the aliases Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, applied novichok to the exterior door handle of the Skripals’ house between noon and 12.15pm on March 4. When the Skripals left soon after to go out, they both came into contact with it.
What Happened With the Container of Novichok Afterwards?
This remains a key unanswered question of the case. One suggestion is they may have used a small sealing device to repackage the bottle during a “missing 33 minutes” when they disappeared from surveillance cameras and left it in a bin. Rowley stated he thought he found the bottle in June, a few days before giving it to Sturgess. However, investigators lean toward the idea he found it shortly after the attack. Detectives found CCTV footage that seems to depict Rowley searching bins in Salisbury on the day the Skripals fell ill. If this is accurate, Rowley had the bottle for over three months and even moved home with it. Yet, police have not categorically dismissed the possibility of a second container, which has never been found.
The Lethality of the Novichok?
The inquiry was told it was of exceptional potency and had the potential for mass casualties. A government scientist stated that a tiny quantity – as small as a sixth of a grain of salt – could have been fatal. After the poisonings, dozens of individuals went to hospital worried about exposure. Three police officers were affected, including DS Nick Bailey. Emergency services disposed of two dozen vehicles they believed were tainted by 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 Putin but was provided with little protection in Salisbury. Skripal is reportedly declined security measures, even basic CCTV.
Should More Have Been Done to Protect the Public Following the Incident?
Similarly, Sturgess’s family believes so. No public warnings about picking up containers that may have contained nerve agent 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 alert was only given after Sturgess was poisoned.
Regarding the Performance of First Responders?
The assessment is mixed. There were numerous acts of courage by paramedics, firefighters and police officers. However, Wiltshire police has apologised for wrongly categorising Sturgess as a drug user. Rowley had a history, but Sturgess did not.
Was Skripal Lucky to Survive?
Without a doubt. A first responder told the inquiry that he inadvertently administered Skripal a specific antidote, a drug used for certain poisonings, after a fortunate accident. This intervention may have saved Skripal’s life.
The Russian Stance
The Moscow's diplomatic mission has claimed there are many “unanswered questions” around the poisoning. It highlights claims that Skripal’s car was seen out on the morning in question and that their mobiles were turned off for a period of time. It also questions the absence of cameras around the Skripal house. British investigators have stated there have been hundreds, if not thousands of false leads in the case.
