News Mania / Piyal Chatterjee / 14th October 2024
Monday will see the start of a public investigation into the death of a lady whom Britain claims was accidentally killed by the Novichok nerve weapon after former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal was attempted to be killed six years prior. In July 2018, Dawn Sturgess passed away from Novichok poisoning. Her partner had discovered a fake perfume bottle that authorities think was used by Russian intelligence agents to bring the toxin into the nation.
Four months previously, in the southern English city of Salisbury, Skripal, who sold Russian secrets to Britain, and his daughter Yulia had been discovered slumped unconscious on a public bench. The effects of the military-grade nerve agent left them both seriously unwell, as did a police officer who visited Skripal’s home.
The investigation into Sturgess’s death will finally begin on Monday, with hearings taking place first in Salisbury. Its goal is to give her family closure on the circumstances surrounding her death. It will also secretly hear some sensitive evidence from the security agencies and the government.Although three Russians, whom British police claim to be GRU military intelligence officials, have been charged in absentia for attacking Skripal and his daughter, no formal charges have been made against them for Sturgess’s 44-year-old death.
Both Moscow and the three guys have denied any connection.
The Skripals would not provide testimony personally, according to the investigation chair, former Supreme Court judge Anthony Hughes, who decided last month. He cited the “overwhelming risk” that they would still be physically attacked if their identities and current whereabouts were discovered.Later, two of the Russians who Britain had suspected of being the poisoners made an appearance on Russian TV to refute any involvement, claiming to have been just innocent visitors visiting the cathedral in the city. The event resulted in the largest diplomatic expulsions between the West and the East since the end of the Cold War, and after Russia invaded Ukraine, ties between London and Moscow deteriorated even further.
The Russian embassy in London said last week the British foreign ministry’s “references to the alleged use of the mythical Novichok are quite preposterous”.”Following the Salisbury provocation in 2018 it was the UK side that refused to follow established procedures and cooperate with Russia to uncover the truth,” it said on X.
