Russian spy Sergei Skripal blames Vladimir Putin for Novichok poisoning at inquiry

In March 2018, a Russian double agent who had been living in Salisbury after defecting was found collapsed on a bench along with his daughter in The Maltings shopping centre. Sergei and Yulia Skripal had been poisoned by the nerve agent Novichok which was traced to the door handle of his home and likely planted by Russian secret agents. Photo / Getty Images

Former Russian spy and defector Sergei Skripal has told a British inquiry he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his Novichok poisoning.

The inquiry is being held into the death of a woman who was unwittingly poisoned by the nerve agent.

Skripal, who also sold Russian secrets to Britain, and his daughter Yulia were found slumped unconscious on a public bench in the southern English city of Salisbury in March 2018 after Novichok was smeared on the front door handle of his home.

Four months later, Dawn Sturgess died from exposure to the poison after her partner found a counterfeit perfume bottle which police believe had been used by Russian intelligence operatives to smuggle the poison into the country.

The Skripals, and a police officer who went to Skripal’s house, were left critically ill from the effects of the military-grade nerve agent, but recovered, as did Sturgess’ partner Charlie Rowley. Russia has repeatedly rejected British accusations that it was involved.

Skripal has not spoken publicly since the attack, but an inquiry today into Sturgess’ death heard a statement from him saying that he, like the British Government, blamed Putin, although the former spy said he had no concrete evidence for his accusation.

“I believe Putin makes all important decisions himself. I therefore think he must have at least given permission for the attack on Yulia and me,” Skripal said in the statement read out by Andrew O’Connor, the lawyer to the public inquiry.

In his statement, Skripal, who disclosed he had no warning his life was in danger at the time, said he was aware of allegations that Putin, who he said he knew personally, had been involved in illegal activity to do with the disposal of rare metals.

“I have read that Putin is personally very interested in poison and likes reading books about it,” his statement said.

British police have charged in absentia three Russians, who they say are GRU military intelligence officers, over the attempted murder of Skripal and his daughter, although no formal case has been brought against them over the death of Sturgess.

Two of the Russians accused by Britain of carrying out the poisoning later appeared on Russian TV to deny involvement, saying they had been innocent tourists visiting the city’s cathedral. All three have denied any involvement.

Earlier, the inquiry, which began today, was told that Sturgess, a 44-year-old mother-of-three, was caught in the “crossfire” of an international assassination attempt.

Evidence suggested the perfume bottle had contained enough poison to kill thousands, O’Connor said.

“You may conclude ... that those who discarded the bottle in this way acted with a grotesque disregard for human life,” he told the inquiry chairman, former Supreme Court Judge Anthony Hughes.

The inquiry, which follows a police investigation and lengthy legal steps that are required beforehand, is having its initial hearings in Salisbury.

It will hear some confidential evidence in secret from the UK security services, including details of Skripal’s relationship as a double agent with British intelligence agencies, O’Connor said.

Last month, Hughes ruled that the Skripals would not give evidence in person themselves, saying there was an “overwhelming risk” they still faced physical attack if they could be identified and their current whereabouts revealed.

The incident led to the biggest East-West diplomatic expulsions since the Cold War, and relations between London and Moscow have since deteriorated further following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Russian Embassy in London said last week the British Foreign Ministry’s “references to the alleged use of the mythical Novichok are quite preposterous”.