Salisbury Novichok poisonings: The spy, the Russian hit squad and the unlikely victims
The Novichok poisonings in Salisbury unexpectedly thrust a group of strangers into the national spotlight.
Today, a public inquiry will publish its findings into the death of a woman poisoned by a Russian nerve agent in July 2018.
A former spy, a Wiltshire Police officer and a Russian hit squad are implicated in the devastating events that ensue.
Those attending include:
Dawn Sturgess
Dawn Sturgess, 44, who died, was remembered by those closest to her as a caring, loving and kind mother of three; he cared for others even when his own life was difficult.
He lived at John Baker House, providing accommodation for people experiencing homelessness, and had long struggled with alcohol addiction.
But in the months leading up to his death, those who loved him say he was “settled and happy”, optimistic about the future and making plans to regain his independence.
Her partner Charlie Rowley described her as “a very caring, lovely lady, a wonderful woman”.
He remembered her as a devoted mother who “dedicated a lot of time to her daughter and two sons”, adding: “She had a big heart and would help anyone she could.”
Miss Sturgess’s mother, Caroline Sturgess, spoke at the public inquiry and said her daughter was “smart, funny, incredibly selfless and a very kind person”.
Charlie Rowley
Charlie Rowley, 52, suffered lifelong health problems after being poisoned with Novichok, which resulted in him being hospitalized for more than two months following his ordeal.
Due to nerve damage in his right eye, he has vision problems and problems in his leg muscles that cause loss of balance, and he has difficulty walking short distances.
Mr Rowley met Ms Sturgess at a charity supporting homeless people in Salisbury and they had been a couple for 16 months.
He used heroin regularly, was prescribed methadone, and also took crack cocaine. His ex-girlfriend died of a drug overdose.
The father-of-one’s habit of regularly searching trash cans played a crucial role in the events that unfolded; When he found a sealed gift perfume box containing a Novichok, he unknowingly gave it to his partner.
In his statement to the inquest, written in August last year, Mr Rowley said he had little memory of the events leading up to the poisonings.
“My memory was also bad due to my daily use of large amounts of alcohol, methadone and/or other drugs. I am not currently using any drugs,” he said.
Sergei Skripal
Sergei Skripal, 74, was born in Russia and was a paratrooper and later a senior member of the GRU, the Russian military intelligence service.
He was convicted of espionage in Russia in 2004 and sentenced to 13 years in prison for allegedly spying on behalf of England.
He was pardoned by the presidency in 2010 and came to England on a prisoner exchange, settling in Salisbury, Wiltshire.
Michael Mansfield KC, who represented the Sturgess family at the inquest, described Mr Skripal as “a significant asset with a high level of knowledge and intelligence”.
President Vladimir Putin personally described the former colonel as “a traitor who abandoned the homeland.”
Yulia Skripal
Yulia Skripal’s life came into the international spotlight during her visit to her father Sergei.
Ms Skripal, 41, had arrived in the UK for a two-month holiday from Moscow the day before the poisonings.
He was born in Russia but spent part of his childhood living in Spain.
After graduating from university, she worked as an assistant before working for companies such as Nike and Pepsi.
Between 2010 and 2015, after his father’s release from prison, he lived in England with his parents and brother, but returned to Russia.
His family was marked by tragedy. His mother Ludmilla died of cancer in 2012, and his older brother Alexander died of liver failure in 2017.
Speaking in English, Spanish and Russian, Ms Skripal said in a statement regarding the investigation: “I cannot imagine why the Russian government would do this, go and kill a person who has been living here for eight years and no longer has any connection with Russia.”
Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey
Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey’s life changed forever when he became the first person to enter the home of Sergei Skripal, who collapsed from Novichok poisoning.
The nerve gas was applied to the doorknob of the former spy’s home in Salisbury, Wiltshire, by agents from Russian intelligence agencies.
A few hours after leaving Mr. Skripal’s house, the officer became seriously ill.
He remained in intensive care for two weeks, during which time his wife and two daughters feared he would die.
Mr Bailey left Wiltshire Police in October 2020 after 18 years, following three attempts to return to work.
He said he “couldn’t cope with being in a police environment” after trying to return in September 2018, January 2019 and June 2020.
Russian hit squad
The attack on the Skripals was believed to have been carried out by GRU members.
Alexander Petrov, 46, and Ruslan Boshirov, 47, who traveled together to Salisbury to carry out the attack, were assisted by a third agent named Sergey Fedotov, the pseudonym of GRU officer Denis Sergeev.
Petrov’s real identity was believed to be Alexander Mishkin, a doctor in the GRU. Boshirov was believed to be Anatoliy Vladimirovich Chepiga.
British counter-terrorism police believe they are members of GRU unit 29155, which is “frequently reported to be involved in operations around the world”.
