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 the spring of 2018 was an unprecedented incident that created international shockwaves. The targeted man, former Russian agent the ex-spy Sergei Skripal, survived an brazen effort to kill him, but an bystander, a woman named Dawn Sturgess, lost her life. An official inquiry was held last year, probing the attack on the Skripals, the actions of first responders, and the tragic circumstances that ensnared Sturgess. Below are several central issues it explored.
Who Was Dawn Sturgess?
Dawn Sturgess was a 44-year-old mother of three. On 30 June 2018, she and her boyfriend, Charlie Rowley, fell ill at his home in a Wiltshire town called Amesbury. Sturgess died on 8 July, while Rowley survived but has suffered ill health since. Initially, police believed it was a drugs overdose. Soon after, it became apparent they were victims with the chemical weapon Novichok. It is believed Sturgess applied with the novichok believing it was perfume. Rowley is believed to have discovered a container of novichok 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 South-West England?
On 4 March 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 prisoner swap. Both became gravely sick but managed to survive.
Why Were the Skripals Targeted?
The UK government believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised the assassination attempt on Sergei Skripal. A suggested motive offered is that Skripal harboured secret information about the Russian president’s alleged financial crimes 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 the aftermath, the UK government expelled 23 Russian diplomats.
What Form Did the Attack on Skripal Carried Out?
British investigators believe a pair of operatives, using the aliases Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, applied novichok to the exterior door handle of the Skripals’ house in the early afternoon on March 4. When the former spy and his daughter left shortly afterwards to go out, they both came into contact with it.
What Did the Agents Do 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 “missing 33 minutes” when they vanished from Salisbury CCTV 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 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 been able to rule out the possibility of a another vessel, which remains missing.
How Dangerous Was the Novichok?
The inquiry was told it was of exceptional potency and could have killed thousands. A expert witness stated that a tiny quantity – comparable to a speck of salt – could have been fatal. After the poisonings, dozens of individuals went to hospital worried about contamination. Three police officers were affected, including Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey. Emergency services scrapped 24 vehicles they feared had come into contact with the poison.
Should More Have Been Done to Protect Sergei Skripal?
The victim's relatives argues no. They assert that he was a blatant target for the Russian state but was provided with little protection 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?
Similarly, Sturgess’s family holds this view. No public warnings about handling suspicious items that may have contained nerve agent were issued after the initial attack. The former top medical advisor, Dame Sally Davies, said she recalled clear memory of warning people not to touch items near the scene in March 2018. However, there is no record of such a statement. A alert was only given following the June incident.
What About the Response of the Emergency Services?
The record is varied. There were many instances of great bravery by emergency personnel. However, local authorities has apologised for mistakenly labeling Sturgess as a user of illegal drugs. 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 knocking over a drugs bag. 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 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 doubts the absence of cameras around the Skripal house. UK police have stated there have been a multitude of false leads in the case.
