The public inquiry into the 2018 death of Dawn Sturgess, a British woman who was exposed to the nerve agent Novichok, has commenced in Salisbury. The inquiry will delve into the circumstances surrounding her death, which occurred after she came into contact with the deadly chemical weapon contained in a discarded bottle that she believed held perfume. This tragic incident was linked to an attempt on the life of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal, who was also targeted by Novichok in Salisbury in 2018.
The inquiry will also examine the broader context of the Novichok attack, which plunged relations between the United Kingdom and Russia to a new low. The UK accuses two Russian security service officers of carrying out the attack, allegedly using false passports to enter the country. A third individual has been identified as the mastermind behind the operation, all of whom are believed to be members of the Russian intelligence agency GRU.
The first week of public hearings will take place in Salisbury Guildhall, before moving to the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London on October 28th. An international arrest warrant has been issued for the suspects, but former Prime Minister Theresa May acknowledged that achieving justice is unlikely. Russia, whose constitution prohibits the extradition of its citizens, has denied any involvement and dismissed the inquiry as a “circus.”
The Salisbury incident resulted in the largest-ever expulsion of diplomats between Western powers and Russia, as well as a round of sanctions. These sanctions have since been surpassed by Western responses to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Wiltshire Police Chief Constable Catherine Roper stressed the importance of the inquiry for Sturgess’s family and loved ones, whose lives have been permanently altered. “The purpose is to provide Dawn’s family, friends and our wider communities in Wiltshire the opportunity to access the fullest possible information surrounding Dawn’s death,” she stated. The inquiry will also bring back difficult memories for those who lived and worked in Salisbury and Amesbury during the 2018 events.
Despite the bleak outlook for justice, the inquiry aims to provide some closure to those affected by this tragic event. It is hoped that the process will shed light on the circumstances surrounding Dawn Sturgess’s death and offer a greater understanding of the Novichok attack’s impact on Salisbury and the broader diplomatic landscape.
