An inquiry is scheduled to commence into the tragic death of a British woman in 2018, who was poisoned by a Soviet-developed nerve agent. The British officials have taken this initiative to delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding the poisoning, which may shed light on any potential Russian involvement. The woman, Dawn Sturgess, and her partner fell ill after coming into contact with a discarded perfume bottle containing the nerve agent Novichok in the town of Amesbury in southwest England. While Sturgess tragically passed away a few days later, her partner survived the ordeal.
This incident occurred just three months after a former Russian intelligence officer, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter were also poisoned by Novichok in an attack in Salisbury, a nearby city. The UK has pointed fingers towards Russian intelligence agencies for these events, whereas Moscow has vehemently denied any involvement. Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed Skripal as a non-issue, labelling him a “scumbag” who held no interest for the Kremlin as he was part of a spy exchange in 2010. The Skripals themselves have opted not to testify during the upcoming inquiry, citing concerns for their safety.
Heather Hallett, the coroner who oversaw the inquest into Sturgess’ death in 2018, has stressed the importance of conducting a public inquiry to fully investigate the circumstances surrounding the woman’s demise. Unlike inquests that are typically held in cases of unknown causes of death or violent deaths, public inquiries have the authority to delve into sensitive intelligence material to uncover the truth behind such incidents. The inquiry opening on Monday shines a spotlight on the need to uncover the full picture behind this tragic event, as the quest for justice and clarity continues.