UK sanctions Russian scientists and labs linked to Salisbury attack

The scientists and institutions, responsible for developing the Novichok nerve agent, used in the 2018 Salisbury assassination plot, have been hit with sanctions by the UK government.

Dawn Sturgess died, after coming into contact with the poison, which was used in an attempted assassination of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.

The sanctions, announced by the Foreign Office, also targeted the Russians involved in the development of the Epibatidine toxin used against Alexei Navalny, a prominent opposition leader and critic of Vladimir Putin.

Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, said: “Russia’s repeated use of chemical weapons is a sickening violation of international law and a direct threat to global security.

“From the use of Novichok nerve agents in Salisbury to Epibatidine in Siberia, poisoning Dawn Sturgess and Alexei Navalny, Russia continues to use barbaric tools to inflict death and suffering on innocent civilians, including in Ukraine.

“We will continue to call out Russia’s violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention, hold those responsible to account, and work with allies to deter further use of these dangerous weapons.”

The sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans, apply to seven individuals and two research institutes.

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