The UK government believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally authorized the Salisbury novichok poisonings, which had the potential to claim thousands of lives, according to statements made during an inquiry. A senior official from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) indicated that the nerve agent attack was so significant that it necessitated direct approval from Putin himself.
Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, the intended target of the attack, expressed in a recent statement that he believes Putin must have granted permission for the operation, stating, “I believe Putin makes all important decisions himself.” On March 4, 2018, Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, were poisoned with novichok in Salisbury, where they had settled after a spy exchange. Four months later, on June 30, Dawn Sturgess, 44, and her partner, Charlie Rowley, fell ill after Rowley discovered a perfume bottle containing the deadly nerve agent, which had been discarded. While the Skripals survived, Sturgess tragically died on July 8.
The inquiry, which commenced at the Guildhall in Salisbury, aims to investigate Sturgess's death and will also examine the circumstances surrounding the Skripal attack. Andrew O’Connor KC, counsel for the inquiry, described Sturgess's poisoning as “extraordinary” and suggested it might have occurred during an “illegal and outrageous international assassination attempt.”
O’Connor emphasized the lethal potential of the novichok found in the discarded bottle, stating that it could have killed thousands. He remarked that the circumstances of the case reveal a “grotesque disregard for human life” by those responsible for discarding the poison in a public area.
Jonathan Allen, a senior FCDO official, outlined the UK government's position regarding the poisonings. He explained that, due to the high level of authority required under Russian law to approve such operations abroad, along with the politically sensitive nature of the target, it is the government’s view that Putin authorized the attack.
During previous police interviews, Skripal voiced his suspicions that Putin was behind the assassination attempt, asserting that it stemmed from Russia's belief that he continued to work for Western intelligence. In a recent statement, he described the attack on himself and his daughter as a shocking betrayal, stating, “It is not honorable to kill people who have been exchanged.”
The inquiry revealed that novichok had been applied to the door handle of Skripal’s home, but the exact manner in which Rowley found the perfume bottle remains unclear. O’Connor indicated that the inquiry may not reach a definitive conclusion regarding how the bottle came to be in Rowley’s possession.
CCTV footage shown during the inquiry revealed a 31-minute gap in the movements of the suspected assassins, potentially coinciding with the time they discarded the poison.
Adam Straw KC, representing Sturgess's family, described her as “collateral damage in global spy wars” and urged Putin to confront the evidence in person. He stated, “He should not cower behind the walls of the Kremlin.” Straw also noted that tests confirmed the novichok found on Skripal’s door was from the same batch that killed Sturgess.
Michael Mansfield KC, also representing the Sturgess family, criticized UK authorities for failing to protect Skripal, arguing that the poisoning was not unexpected and that adequate measures were not taken to secure the discarded bottle. He likened the attack to the poisoning of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, who was killed with a poisoned cup of tea in London.
Cathryn McGahey KC, representing the UK government, reiterated that the operation was authorized by Putin. The inquiry is set to continue.
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