Novichok Attacks, Moscow's Involvement and British Reaction: Key Questions of the Inquiry
The poisoning incident involving Novichok in Salisbury in the English countryside during March 2018 was an extraordinary event that created international shockwaves. The intended victim, former Russian agent the ex-spy Sergei Skripal, recovered from an brazen effort to kill him, but an innocent British citizen, Dawn Sturgess, tragically died. An public investigation was held last year, examining the poisoning of the Skripals, the response of emergency services, and the fatal sequence of events that led to Sturgess's death. Below are several central issues it explored.
The Identity of Dawn Sturgess?
Dawn Sturgess was a 44-year-old woman with three children. On 30 June 2018, she and her boyfriend, Charlie Rowley, became sick at his residence in Amesbury, Wiltshire. Tragically, Sturgess passed away on July 8, while Rowley pulled through but has experienced ongoing health problems. At first, police believed it was a case of drug poisoning. Soon after, it became apparent they were victims with the nerve agent novichok. Sturgess sprayed herself with the novichok thinking it was a fragrance. Rowley is believed to have discovered a vessel containing the agent disguised as a perfume bottle and given it to his partner. The inquiry heard that Sturgess was an unintended casualty of an “illegal and outrageous international assassination attempt”.
What Was a Container of Novichok Doing in the English Countryside?
On March 4, 2018, former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia Skripal, were poisoned by novichok at his home in Salisbury, not far from Amesbury. Skripal had been living quietly in a suburb after a spy exchange. Both became gravely sick but ultimately survived.
What Was the Motive for Targeting the Skripals?
The British authorities are convinced that Vladimir Putin approved the attack on Sergei Skripal. A suggested motive offered is that Skripal harboured secret information about the Russian president’s “criminal embezzlement” involving profits from metals production. There have also been suggestions that Skripal kept assisting intelligence services in the West after his supposed retirement from espionage. In response to the attack, the UK government expelled 23 Russian diplomats.
What Form Did the Attack on Skripal Take?
British investigators believe a pair of operatives, using the names Petrov and Boshirov, smeared the nerve agent to the front-door handle of the Skripals’ house in the early afternoon on 4 March. When the former spy and his daughter left soon after to go out, they both came into contact with it.
What Happened With the Novichok Bottle Afterwards?
This remains a key unanswered question of the case. A theory is they may have used a small sealing device to repackage the bottle during a “missing 33 minutes” when they vanished from Salisbury CCTV and discarded it in a trash can. Rowley said he believed 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 video evidence 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 more than 90 days and even moved home with it. Yet, police have not categorically dismissed the possibility of a another vessel, 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 – comparable to a speck of salt – might have caused death. After the poisonings, 87 people went to hospital worried about contamination. Several officers were affected, including Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey. Emergency services disposed of two dozen vehicles they feared had come into contact with the poison.
Was Enough Done to Protect Sergei Skripal?
The victim's relatives believes so. They contend 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 initial attack. The former chief medical officer for England, Dame Sally Davies, claimed she had a “strong recollection” of advising the public not to touch items near the scene in March. However, there is no record of such a statement. A alert was only given following the June incident.
Regarding the Response of the Emergency Services?
The assessment is mixed. There were many instances of great bravery by emergency personnel. However, local authorities has apologised for wrongly categorising Sturgess as a drug user. Rowley had a history, but Sturgess was not.
Did Skripal Have Luck to Survive?
Absolutely. A first responder told the inquiry that he accidentally gave Skripal a specific antidote, a drug used for certain poisonings, after a fortunate accident. This intervention potentially rescued Skripal’s life.
The Russian Stance
The Moscow's diplomatic mission has claimed there are numerous unresolved issues around the poisoning. It highlights claims that the Skripals' vehicle was spotted out on the morning in question and that their mobiles were turned off for four hours. It also doubts the absence of cameras around the Skripal house. British investigators have stated there have been a multitude of red herrings in the case.
