By Michael Holden
SALISBURY, England (Reuters) – Former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal believes Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his poisoning with Novichok, an investigation into the death of a woman who was unknowingly poisoned with the nerve agent was told on Monday.
Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found collapsed unconscious on a public bench in the southern English town of Salisbury in March 2018 after Novichok was applied to the handle of the front door of their home.
Four months later, Dawn Sturgess, a mother of three, died from exposure to the poison after her partner found a bottle of fake perfume that police believe had been used by Russian spies to smuggle the military-grade nerve agent into the country.
The Skripals and a police officer who went to Skripal’s house were left seriously ill by its effects, but recovered.
His poisoning led to the largest diplomatic expulsions between East and West since the Cold War. Russia has repeatedly rejected British accusations that it was involved.
Skripal has not spoken publicly since the attack, but in a statement to the public inquiry into Sturgess’ death, he said he blamed Putin, although he acknowledged he had no concrete evidence.
“I believe that Putin makes all the important decisions himself. Therefore, I believe that he must have at least given permission to attack Yulia and me,” Skripal said in the statement read by Andrew O’Connor, the investigation’s lawyer. .
Skripal, who sold Russian secrets to Britain, went there after a spy swap in 2010 and said he knew Putin personally, said he was aware of allegations that the Russian president had been involved in illegal activities related to the removal of rare metals.
“I have read that Putin is very personally interested in poison and likes to read books about it,” his statement read.
The British government also believes that Russian agents carried out the attack in an operation authorized by Putin, lawyer Cathryn McGahey told the inquiry.
Adam Straw, a lawyer representing Sturgess’ family, asked that Putin appear personally.
“He should not hide behind the Kremlin walls. He should look Dawn’s family in the eye and respond to the evidence against them,” Straw said.
Caught in crossfire
British police charged three Russians, who they say are GRU military intelligence officers, in absentia with the attempted murder of Skripal and his daughter.
Two of the Russians accused by Britain of carrying out the poisoning later appeared on Russian television to deny their involvement, saying they had been innocent tourists visiting the city’s cathedral. All three have denied any involvement.
No one has been charged in Sturgess’ death.
Earlier the inquest, which finally began on Monday following a police investigation and other lengthy legal proceedings, was told Sturgess, 44, was caught in the “crossfire” of an international assassination attempt.
Evidence suggested the contaminated perfume bottle contained enough poison to kill thousands of people, O’Connor said.
“It can be concluded… that those who discarded the bottle in this way acted with a grotesque disregard for human life,” former Supreme Court judge Anthony Hughes told the inquiry’s chair.
The inquiry will hear some confidential evidence in secret from the UK security services, including details of Skripal’s relationship with British intelligence agencies, O’Connor said.
The Skripals will not testify in person out of fear for their safety.
The Russian embassy in London last week dismissed British accusations about “the alleged use of the mythical Novichok” as quite absurd. O’Connor said the investigation would take full account of the Russian response.
(This story has been refiled to remove extraneous words in paragraph 5)