Vladimir Putin has been deemed “morally responsible” for the tragic death of a mother of three who was fatally poisoned by Novichok, a lethal nerve agent left on the streets of Britain by Russian operatives, according to the findings of an inquiry into her passing.
Dawn Sturgess, aged 44, passed away three weeks after mistakenly spraying herself with a discarded bottle of Novichok in July 2018, believing it to be perfume. Her partner, Charlie Rowley, also fell ill but survived, along with Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey and former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, who were poisoned months earlier by the same toxic substance left on their doorstep.
Chairman Lord Hughes of Ombersley stated that the evidence overwhelmingly pointed to the Russian state’s involvement in the attempted assassination, serving as a clear demonstration of Russian state power on both international and domestic fronts.
In response to the findings, the UK government has implemented broad sanctions against Russia, including the complete sanctioning of the Russian military intelligence agency, the GRU. Lord Hughes concluded that the operation to assassinate Sergei Skripal must have received authorization at the highest level from President Putin. Consequently, all individuals involved in the assassination attempt, including those who carried it out and those who provided authorization or assistance, whether in Russia or elsewhere, bear moral responsibility for Dawn Sturgess’ tragic death.
The inquiry, led by Lord Hughes, a retired Supreme Court judge, unveiled its long-awaited conclusions at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London. The inquiry delved into seven weeks of evidence, including details about three Russian GRU agents – Alexander Petrov, Ruslan Boshirov, and Sergey Fedotov – who traveled from Russia to the UK to execute the attack.
Lord Hughes highlighted the recklessness displayed by the Russian agents in leaving the Novichok on Skripal’s door handle, endangering unsuspecting individuals in the vicinity. He emphasized the audacity and disregard for public safety demonstrated during the attack on Sergei Skripal.
The inquiry also cleared the British authorities, including the security services, of any blame in preventing the assault on Colonel Skripal. Lord Hughes acknowledged some shortcomings in Skripal’s security management but concluded they did not contribute to the incident.
Dawn Sturgess’ family expressed disappointment with the inquiry’s lack of recommendations, emphasizing the need for meaningful changes to prevent similar tragedies in the future. They criticized the initial characterization of Dawn by Wiltshire Police and called for enhanced public health advice regarding the risks associated with Novichok.
In conclusion, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned President Putin and the GRU for their involvement in the heinous act, emphasizing their threat to British citizens and vowing to combat hostile Russian activities aggressively.