An independent inquiry into the death of Dawn Sturgess, who was poisoned by the nerve agent Novichok in Salisbury in 2018, has opened
Family call for Putin to give evidence at Novichok inquiry
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cjr3gxjqej8t
Novichok inquiry: Who was Dawn Sturgess and how was she poisoned?
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Cathryn McGahey KC, for the UK government, said: “It’s the government’s view that this operation was authorised by President Putin.”
A senior Foreign Office (FCDO) official has given a statement to the inquiry spelling out that the British government has concluded the nerve agent attack was so sensitive that Putin himself must have given it the go-ahead.
The inquiry also heard that the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, who was the target of the attack, blamed Putin. In a new statement provided to the inquiry, he said: “I believe Putin makes all important decisions himself. I therefore think he must have at least given permission for the attack.”