UK accuses Putin of 'moral responsibility'

In a public inquiryconducted in the UK,it was concluded that the 2018 poisoning of Russian double agent Sergei Skripal with the nerve agentknown as Novichok was carried out under the orders of Russian PresidentVladimir Putin. The inquiry, led by a formerjudge, UK HighCourt Judge Anthony Hughes stated that following a 2010spy swap between the twocountries, Skripal, who had settled in the UK,was targetedfor assassination by members of Russia's Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) in an attemptattemptedto establishthat they were certain of, he emphasized. Hughes stated, "Sergei Skripal’s assassination must have been approved by Putin; there is very strong evidencethat this was an attack by the Russian state."

Hughes noted that two Russian citizens sprayed the Novichok agent on the door of Skripal’s home and that the bottle containing the toxic gas was left for innocent peopleignoring the danger thatcould arise,theydiscarded it. The investigationreported that they threw it away. As a result of the investigation, it was stated that thebottle in question could have killed at least a thousand people. had the capacity to killit was alleged.

"PUTIN IS MORALLYR ESPONSIBLE"

Hughes alsoaddressed the death of 44-year-old British citizen Dawn Sturgess, a mother of 3,who lost her life due to Novichok 4 monthsafter Skripal's poisoning. Hughes stated,"These incredibly reckless actions, sthe actual assassins, the GRUofficials, and all those who authorized the assassinationup to Putinare allmorally responsible for Sturgess's deathit means," the statement read. As part of the investigation, Sturgess's partner testified that the Russian spies had left the Novichok gas used to smuggle it into thecountry, it wasreported that she found one of the perfume bottles.

The Britishgovernment alsosummoned Russia's Ambassadorto the UK, Andrey Kelin, toend of the inquiryto discussthefindingswith theministry summoneddemanded. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer alsoinhis statement said, "Thefindingspresented today are a very serious indicationof the Kremlin'sdisregard for innocent lives." The UK will always stand against Putin's brutal regime and hold his killing machine accountable,' they stated.

UKIMPOSES SANCTIONS

The government alsonoted that developments following attacks in Ukraine and across Europeorchestratingaggressiveacts,sanctionswere imposedon 3 GRU officials who were charged in absentia.The UK reported that sanctions were applied to the 3 GRU officials charged in absentia. Accused by the UK,The accused individualsdenied any involvement in the incident. Two of these individuals, in a statement made on Russian television,claimedthat they were innocent tourists visiting a cathedral in the city,theystated.

Sergei Skripal was found unconscious in 2018 on a bench in the city of Salisbury with his daughter, Yulia Skripal,with their eyes closed.found in a state of collapse and taken to the hospital, while his daughter was discharged after medicalinterventions,whereas he lost his life. During the investigations conducted throughout the case,it was stated that Novichok gas had been sprayed on the doorof the Skripal family's home. The Skripal family and a police officer who visited the house became severely ill due to the effects of Novichok but later recovered.

News Source: 12punto