Nerve Agent Poisonings, Russia's Alleged Role and UK Response: Central Issues of the Inquiry
The poisoning incident involving Novichok in the city of Salisbury in the English countryside during March 2018 was an unprecedented incident that sent shock waves across the world. The targeted man, former Russian agent the ex-spy Sergei Skripal, recovered from an brazen effort to kill him, but an innocent British citizen, a woman named Dawn Sturgess, lost her life. An public investigation was conducted last year, probing the attack on the Skripals, the actions of first responders, and the fatal sequence of events that led to Sturgess's death. Below are some of the key questions it delved into.
Who Was Dawn Sturgess?
The victim, Dawn Sturgess was a 44-year-old mother of three. On 30 June 2018, she and her partner, Charlie Rowley, fell ill at his home in a Wiltshire town called Amesbury. Tragically, Sturgess passed away on July 8, while Rowley survived but has suffered ill health since. At first, police thought it might be a case of drug poisoning. Within days, it became clear they had been poisoned with the nerve agent novichok. Sturgess sprayed herself with the substance believing it was perfume. Rowley is thought to have found a vessel containing the agent disguised as a perfume bottle and given it to his partner. The inquiry heard that Sturgess was caught “in the crossfire” of an “illegal and outrageous international assassination attempt”.
Why Was a Vessel 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, seven miles south of Amesbury. Skripal had been settled in a suburban cul-de-sac after a prisoner swap. Both became gravely sick but ultimately survived.
Why Were the Skripals Targeted?
The British authorities believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the attack on Sergei Skripal. One theory offered is that Skripal possessed sensitive knowledge about the Russian president’s alleged financial crimes involving profits from metals production. There have also been indications that Skripal continued to help intelligence services in the West after his alleged retirement from espionage. In response to the attack, 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 names 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 soon after to go out, they both came into contact with it.
What Happened With the Novichok Bottle Afterwards?
This remains a central mystery of the case. A theory is they may have used a small sealing device to reseal the container during a “missing 33 minutes” when they disappeared from surveillance cameras 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, investigators lean toward the idea he found it shortly after the attack. Detectives found CCTV footage that seems to depict Rowley looking through rubbish in Salisbury on the fateful day. If that is correct, 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.
The Lethality of the Novichok?
The inquiry was told it was of exceptional potency and could have killed thousands. A government scientist stated that a tiny quantity – as small as a sixth of a grain of salt – might have caused death. After the poisonings, dozens of individuals went to hospital worried about contamination. Three police officers were affected, including Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey. Emergency services disposed of two dozen vehicles they feared had come into contact with the poison.
Should More Have Been Done to Protect Sergei Skripal?
Sturgess’s family believes so. They assert that he was a “clear and obvious” target for Putin but was provided with little protection in Salisbury. Skripal is said to have refused security measures, even basic CCTV.
Should More Have Been Done to Protect the Public Following the Incident?
Again, Sturgess’s family holds this view. No official alerts 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 “strong recollection” of advising the public not to touch items near the scene in March 2018. However, there is no record of such a warning. A public warning was only given after Sturgess was poisoned.
Regarding the Performance of First Responders?
The record is varied. There were many instances of great bravery by emergency personnel. However, local authorities 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?
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 Russian embassy in the UK has claimed there are numerous unresolved issues around the poisoning. It points to claims that the Skripals' vehicle was spotted out on the morning of 4 March and that their mobiles were turned off for a period of time. It also questions the absence of cameras around the Skripal house. UK police have stated there have been hundreds, if not thousands of red herrings in the case.
