The UK government has announced new sanctions against Russian scientists and research institutes involved in the development of the Novichok nerve agent and the toxin epibatidine. The British government’s press office reported the move.
The sanctions target seven individuals and two leading research institutes that participated in Russia’s chemical weapons development program. According to London, these substances were used in the poisonings of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny and British citizen Dawn Sturgess.
Dawn Sturgess died in 2018 following an incident in Salisbury, where—according to British authorities—Russian intelligence services used Novichok in an attempt to assassinate former GRU officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. Sturgess came into accidental contact with the toxic substance from a discarded vial.
Regarding Alexei Navalny, the UK, along with other nations (Sweden, France, Germany, and the Netherlands), is convinced that his poisoning involved epibatidine—a potent toxin developed under the Russian chemical weapons program.
“Russia continues to violate international law and the Chemical Weapons Convention. These sanctions target those responsible for creating the weapons used for killings on UK soil and against the opposition,” the UK government stated.
The sanctions entail asset freezes and entry bans for the named individuals, as well as restrictions on cooperation with the mentioned research centers.