Russian President Vladimir Putin has been deemed “morally responsible” for the death of Dawn Sturgess, who died in 2018 after being exposed to Novichok. The findings were released in a final inquiry report that linked her death to the attempted assassination of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury.
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Who Was Dawn Sturgess?
Dawn Sturgess was a mother-of-three living in Wiltshire. In June 2018, she unknowingly sprayed a bottle of perfume that contained the deadly nerve agent Novichok. Her partner, Charlie Rowley, had found the bottle in a charity bin. The inquiry stated her condition became unsurvivable from an early stage, and no medical treatment could have saved her.
Inquiry Concludes Putin Authorized Skripal Attack
Inquiry chair Lord Anthony Hughes concluded that the operation to assassinate Sergei Skripal must have been authorized at the highest level of the Russian state, including President Vladimir Putin. He stated that everyone involved in the operation was morally responsible for the death of Sturgess. Russia dismissed the findings as “tasteless fairy tales.”
UK Government Reacts to the Report
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the findings a serious reminder of the Kremlin’s disregard for innocent lives. Following the report, the UK sanctioned Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency in full. Starmer said the UK would continue to stand against what he described as Putin’s “brutal regime.”
Timeline of the Skripal Poisonings
Sergei and Yulia Skripal were found seriously ill in Salisbury on 4 March 2018 after being exposed to Novichok. Both eventually recovered. Two Russian agents were believed to have carried out the attack. The nerve agent container was later found by Rowley, leading to Sturgess’s exposure and subsequent death.
Emergency Response and Local Failures
The inquiry highlighted several issues in how authorities handled the case. Wiltshire Police had previously apologized for incorrectly labeling Sturgess as a “well-known drug user.” Lord Hughes noted similarities between opioid overdose symptoms and nerve agent poisoning but concluded that no alert could have saved her. The inquiry also found it reasonable that the public was not initially warned to avoid picking up litter, as the risk of assassins discarding Novichok was considered low.
Family’s Reaction and Ongoing Questions
Sturgess’s family said the report provided some answers but also left several unresolved questions. They expressed concern over the lack of recommendations in the report. A family member stated that with the publication of the findings, they feel they can finally let Dawn rest after seven years of public attention.
Conclusion
The Novichok inquiry reinforces that Vladimir Putin bears moral responsibility for the series of events that led to the death of Dawn Sturgess. While the UK has taken significant diplomatic actions, Sturgess’s family continues to seek clarity and assurance that similar tragedies will not occur in the future. The case stands as a stark reminder of the international risks posed by state-led chemical attacks.