Nerve Agent Poisonings, Moscow's Involvement and British Reaction: Central Issues of the Inquiry
The poisoning incident involving Novichok in the city of Salisbury in south-west England during March 2018 was an extraordinary event that reverberated globally. The intended victim, former Russian agent Sergei Skripal, survived an brazen effort to kill him, but an innocent British citizen, a woman named Dawn Sturgess, lost her life. An official inquiry was conducted last year, examining the poisoning of the Skripals, the response of emergency services, and the tragic circumstances that led to Sturgess's death. 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. Tragically, Sturgess passed away on July 8, while Rowley pulled through but has experienced ongoing health problems. At first, police thought it might be a case of drug poisoning. Soon after, it became clear they had been poisoned with the nerve agent novichok. It is believed Sturgess applied with the substance believing it was perfume. Rowley is thought to have found a container of novichok made to look like perfume and given it to his partner. The inquiry heard that Sturgess was an unintended casualty of an “illegal and outrageous international assassination attempt”.
Why Was a Vessel of Novichok Doing in the English Countryside?
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 prisoner swap. Both became gravely sick but managed to survive.
What Was the Motive for Targeting the Skripals?
The British authorities are convinced that Vladimir Putin authorised the assassination attempt 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 indications 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.
How Was the Attack on Skripal Take?
UK police believe two Russian agents, using the names Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, smeared the nerve agent 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 Novichok Bottle Afterwards?
This remains a key unanswered question of the case. A theory is they may have used a portable heat sealer 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 video evidence that seems to depict Rowley looking through rubbish in Salisbury on the fateful day. If this is accurate, Rowley had the bottle for over three months and even moved home with it. Yet, police have not been able to rule out the possibility of a another vessel, which remains missing.
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 – comparable to a speck of salt – might have caused death. After the poisonings, dozens of individuals self-presented at A&E worried about exposure. Three police officers were contaminated, including Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey. Emergency services scrapped 24 vehicles they feared had come into contact with the poison.
Was Enough Done to Protect Sergei Skripal?
The victim's relatives believes so. They assert that he was a “clear and obvious” target for Putin but was given insufficient security in Salisbury. Skripal is reportedly declined security measures, even basic CCTV.
Could More Have Been Done to Protect the Public After the Attack?
Again, Sturgess’s family holds this view. No public warnings about picking up containers that may have contained the poison were issued after the Skripal poisoning. The former chief medical officer for England, Dame Sally Davies, claimed she had a “strong recollection” of warning people not to pick up objects 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.
What About the Performance of First Responders?
The record is varied. There were many instances of great bravery by emergency personnel. However, Wiltshire police has expressed regret for wrongly categorising Sturgess as a drug user. Rowley had a history, but Sturgess did not.
Did Skripal Have Luck to Survive?
Absolutely. A paramedic told the inquiry that he inadvertently administered Skripal a specific antidote, a drug used for organophosphate poisoning, after a fortunate accident. This intervention may have saved 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 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.
