The family of Novichok victim Dawn Sturgess have issued a powerful call for reflection and reform, criticising a landmark public inquiry for failing to make any recommendations to prevent future tragedies.
A Family's Grief and a Search for Answers
Dawn Sturgess, 44, died in July 2018 after being exposed to the military-grade nerve agent Novichok in Amesbury, Wiltshire. Her death occurred months after the attempted murders of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, his daughter Yulia, and police officer Nick Bailey in nearby Salisbury.
Following the publication of the final report from the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry, her relatives stated it was a "matter for real concern" that the chairman, Lord Hughes of Ombersley, did not put forward any recommendations. In an emotional address, her father, Stan Sturgess, told reporters: "We can have Dawn back now. She's been public for seven years. We can finally put her to peace."
Inquiry Findings and Government Response
The report placed "moral responsibility" for Ms Sturgess's death on Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom it described as "astonishingly reckless." It concluded that agents from the GRU, Russia's military intelligence agency, had smeared the nerve agent on Mr Skripal's door handle in a deliberate "public demonstration of Russian power."
In response to the report's release, the UK government announced new sanctions against the GRU in its entirety. Measures also targeted 11 individuals linked to state-sponsored hostile activity, and Moscow's ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Office.
Unanswered Questions and a Plea for Change
In a detailed statement, Ms Sturgess's family raised serious concerns about security failures prior to the attack. They highlighted that an "adequate risk assessment of Skripal was not done" and that "no protective steps were put in place."
Summarising their position, the family's statement read: "Today's report has left us with some answers, but also a number of unanswered questions. We have always wanted to ensure that what happened to Dawn will not happen to others; that lessons should be learned; and that meaningful changes should be made. The report today contains no recommendations. That is a matter of real concern. There should, there must, be reflection and real change."
The family's call underscores a demand for tangible action to emerge from the tragedy, ensuring that the inquiry's conclusions lead to improved security protocols and accountability.
