Dawn Sturgess died from exposure to Novichok in July 2018 after her partner found a counterfeit perfume bottle which British police believe had been used by Russian intelligence operatives to smuggle the poison into the country.
While British police have charged three Russians, who they say are GRU military intelligence officers, in absentia over the attack on Skripal and his daughter, no formal case has been brought against them over the death of Sturgess. Russia has denied any involvement, casting the accusations as anti-Russian propaganda. The inquiry’s chair, former Supreme Court judge Anthony Hughes said his inquiry would examine the evidence on which the British claims were based.