UK Inquiry Blames Russian Dictator for Novichok Death (Video)

(AMESBURY, WILTSHIRE ) – A UK inquiry has officially concluded that Dawn Sturgess, 44, died after being exposed to the Russian-made nerve agent Novichok in a discarded perfume bottle, in an incident linked to an attempted assassination on former Russian spy Sergey Skripal. Sturgess passed away on 8 July 2018 in Amesbury, Wiltshire, after handling the bottle, which had been left in a public space months earlier.

The inquiry, chaired by Lord Hughes, found that Russian GRU operatives, identified as Petro and Boserof, brought the Novichok to Salisbury and applied it to Skripal’s door handle before recklessly discarding the bottle on 4 March 2018. The discarded poison later came into the possession of Charlie Rowley, who unknowingly gave it to Sturgess, resulting in her death.

Lord Hughes concluded that the attack on Skripal was authorised at the highest level of the Russian state, including by the Russian dictator Vladimir. The report states there is overwhelming evidence that the Novichok originated from Russia and dismisses claims suggesting it could have come from British sources.

The inquiry also examined the response of British authorities. It found some administrative failings in the handling of Skripal’s protection as an exchanged prisoner, including insufficient written risk assessments. However, these shortcomings were not considered a causal factor in Sturgess’s death. The inquiry noted that the public health decision not to issue warnings between the Salisbury incident in March and the Amesbury incident in June was reasonable at the time, aimed at avoiding unnecessary panic.

In summary, the inquiry found that Dawn Sturgess was an innocent victim of a highly reckless assassination attempt by Russian operatives. Responsibility for her death lies entirely with Petro, Boserof, their GRU superiors, and the Russian dictator Vladimir. The report underscores the severe moral and legal accountability of those involved.

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