Novichok Poisonings, Moscow's Involvement and UK Response: Key Questions of the Inquiry

The poisoning incident involving Novichok in Salisbury in the English countryside during March 2018 was an unprecedented incident that reverberated globally. The targeted man, former Russian agent Sergei Skripal, recovered from an audacious assassination attempt, but an bystander, a woman named Dawn Sturgess, lost her life. An public investigation was held last year, probing the attack on the Skripals, the response of emergency services, and the tragic circumstances that led to Sturgess's death. Below are several central issues it delved into.

The Identity of Dawn Sturgess?

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 Amesbury, Wiltshire. Tragically, Sturgess passed away on July 8, while Rowley survived but has suffered ill health since. At first, police believed it was a drugs overdose. Soon after, it became apparent they were victims with the nerve agent novichok. It is believed Sturgess applied with the substance 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 caught “in the crossfire” of an “illegal and outrageous international assassination attempt”.

What Was a Container of Novichok Doing in the English Countryside?

On 4 March 2018, former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia Skripal, were attacked with Novichok at his home in Salisbury, not far from Amesbury. Skripal had been living quietly in a suburb after a spy exchange. Both fell seriously ill but managed to survive.

What Was the Motive for Targeting the Skripals?

The British authorities are convinced that Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised the assassination attempt on Sergei Skripal. A suggested motive offered is that Skripal possessed sensitive knowledge about the Russian president’s alleged financial crimes involving profits from metals production. There have also been suggestions that Skripal kept assisting western security agencies after his supposed retirement from espionage. In the aftermath, the UK government ordered out 23 Russian diplomats.

How Was the Attack on Skripal Take?

British investigators believe two Russian agents, using the names Petrov and Boshirov, smeared the nerve agent to the exterior door handle of the Skripals’ house in the early afternoon on March 4. When the Skripals left soon after to go out, they both touched the handle.

What Did the Agents Do With the Container of Novichok Afterwards?

This remains a key unanswered question of the case. A theory is they may have used a portable heat sealer to reseal the container during a “missing 33 minutes” when they vanished from Salisbury CCTV and left it in a bin. 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 found it soon after the Skripal poisoning. Detectives found video evidence appearing to show Rowley searching bins 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 second container, which has never been found.

How Dangerous Was the Novichok?

The inquiry was told it was of exceptional potency and had the potential for mass casualties. A government scientist stated that a “minuscule” amount – comparable to a speck of salt – might have caused death. After the poisonings, 87 people self-presented at A&E worried about exposure. Three police officers were contaminated, including Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey. Emergency services scrapped 24 vehicles they believed were tainted by the poison.

Should More Have Been Done to Protect Sergei Skripal?

Sturgess’s family believes so. They assert that he was a blatant target for Putin but was provided with little protection in Salisbury. Skripal is reportedly declined security measures, even basic CCTV.

Could More Have Been Done to Protect the Public After the Attack?

Similarly, Sturgess’s family holds this view. No official alerts about handling suspicious items that may have contained the poison were issued after the Skripal poisoning. 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 warning. A alert was only given following the June incident.

Regarding the Response of the Emergency Services?

The record is varied. There were numerous acts of courage by emergency personnel. However, Wiltshire police has apologised for mistakenly labeling Sturgess as a user of illegal drugs. Rowley was known to use drugs, but Sturgess did not.

Was Skripal Lucky to Survive?

Without a doubt. A first responder told the inquiry that he inadvertently administered Skripal atropine, a drug used for certain poisonings, after knocking over a drugs bag. This intervention potentially rescued Skripal’s life.

What Have the Russians Said?

The Moscow's diplomatic mission has claimed there are many “unanswered questions” around the poisoning. It highlights claims that the Skripals' vehicle was spotted out on the morning in question and that their phones were deactivated for a period of time. It also doubts the lack of CCTV around the Skripal house. UK police have stated there have been hundreds, if not thousands of red herrings in the case.