The 2018 investigation into the British woman's Novichok poisoning will begin with Reuters
Written by Michael Holden
LONDON – A public inquiry into the death of a woman Britain says was killed by the Novichok nerve agent following an attempt to kill former Russian lawyer Sergei Skripal six years ago.
Dawn Sturgess died from exposure to Novichok in July 2018 after her partner found a bottle of fake perfume that police believe was being used by Russian intelligence to smuggle the poison into the country.
Skripal, who sold Russian secrets to Britain, and his daughter Yulia were found unconscious on a public bench in the southern English town of Salisbury four months earlier.
Both, along with the officer who went to Skripal, were left seriously ill from the effects of the military-grade nerve agent, but recovered.
On Monday, an inquest into Sturgess' death was finally opened, and a hearing was held in Salisbury. Its aim is to provide his family with answers to how his death happened, and it will hear confidential testimony from the government and security forces.
Although British police have charged three Russians, who they say are GRU military officers, with the attack on Skripal and his daughter, no charges have been brought against Sturgess, 44, in the death.
The three men and Moscow have denied any involvement.
Last month, the chairman of the inquiry, former High Court judge Anthony Hughes, ruled that the Skripals would not give evidence in person, saying there was a “significant risk” they still faced physical attacks if they were identified and their current whereabouts revealed.
Two Russians accused by Britain of carrying out the poisoning later appeared on Russian television denying involvement, saying they were innocent tourists visiting the city's cathedral.
The incident led to the biggest East-West diplomatic ouster since the Cold War, and relations between London and Moscow have worsened following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian embassy in London said last week that Britain's foreign minister was “talking about the alleged use of the legendary Novichok in no way”.
“After the Salisbury outrage in 2018 it was the UK side that refused to follow established procedures and cooperate with Russia to find the truth,” said X.
