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BRITAIN-RUSSIA-POISON-NOVICHOK
From Russian spy poisoning to British death: the Novichok affair
LONDON, July 9, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – A British woman has died after being
exposed to the same nerve agent that poisoned a Russian ex-spy and his
daughter four months ago, a case that caused a major diplomatic fallout
between Moscow and the West.
Here is a timeline of events since Novichok was identified in the poisoning
of the Skripals in the southwestern English city of Salisbury in March, and
resurfaced in the same area in July in a British couple.
– Slumped on a bench –
Former double agent Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, are
found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury on March 4.
Three days later, with the Skripals in hospital in critical condition,
police say the pair was poisoned with a highly-toxic nerve agent.
On March 12, British Prime Minister Theresa May says the military-grade
nerve agent has been identified as belonging to the Novichok (“Newcomer”)
group, which was developed by the Soviet government towards the end of the
Cold War.
She says it is “highly likely Russia was responsible”. Moscow rejects the
claim.
– Diplomatic backlash – On March 14, London says Moscow is “culpable” and
pledges to expel 23 Russian diplomats. It suspends high-level diplomatic
contact with Moscow.
The following day, Britain, France, Germany and the United States also
blame Russia.
On March 17, Moscow says it will expel 23 British diplomats, among other
measures.
On March 20, experts from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical
Weapons (OPCW) take samples.
– Mass expulsions – A raft of Britain’s allies announce on March 26 that
they are expelling Russian diplomats because of the poisoning.
Washington says it is throwing out 60 Russian “spies” and closing the
Russian consulate in Seattle. By March 27 the number of Russian diplomats
expelled from various countries and posts reaches 150.
Two days later Russia announces the expulsion of 60 US diplomats and the
closure of the US consulate in Saint Petersburg.
On March 30 it says diplomats from another 23 countries, almost all EU
members, will have to leave. Up to 50 more British diplomatic staff will be
kicked out, it says.
– Source not verified –
On April 3 the British military facility analysing the nerve agent — which
appears to have been smeared on the front door handle of Skripal’s home —
says it has “not verified the precise source” of the substance.
The Kremlin demands an apology and on April 4 its foreign intelligence
chief says the case is a “grotesque provocation… concocted by the British
and American security services”.
Yulia Skripal is released from hospital on April 10.
Two days later, the OPCW confirms Britain’s findings on the nerve agent but
does not apportion blame.
The next day, National Security Adviser Mark Sedwill says Britain has
information that Russian intelligence had been spying on the Skripals for at
least five years before the attack.
On April 17, an operation begins to clean up affected areas of Salisbury.
Sergei Skripal is discharged from hospital on May 18.
– Two more poisoned –
On July 4, police reveal that two people are in a critical condition after
being found unconscious days earlier in the village of Amesbury, around 12
kilometres (eight miles) from Salisbury.
Later they confirm that the man and woman had come into contact with
Novichok.
The situation is declared a “major incident” and counter-terrorism police
take the lead in the investigation.
The next day Britain’s interior minister Sajid Javid says Moscow needs to
explain itself over the use of the toxic agent.
Russia slams Britain for playing “dirty political games” and demands an
apology.
– Woman dies –
Police say tests on the couple — Dawn Sturgess, 44, and Charlie Rowley, 45
— showed they had handled an unidentified “contaminated item”.
They had visited Salisbury the day before they fell ill.
Police announce on July 8 that Sturgess has died.
Expressing shock, May says the incident is being investigated as a murder.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1532 hrs