The UK Home Office Thursday announced that it would conduct a public inquiry on Dawn Sturgess’ 2018 death following her exposure to the military-grade nerve agent Novichok, which inhibits essential bodily functions.

Sturgess, a UK citizen, was accidentally exposed to the chemical weapon. The Novichok poison is believed to have been part of an operation targeted at Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia Skripal. Sergei and Yulia survived the attempted poisoning, which was allegedly in response to Sergei providing intelligence to both Russia and the UK.

Sturgess was one of four non-targeted people who became exposed to Novichok in the poisoning. However, she was the only person of the four who was exposed to a fatal amount.

As per section 3(1) of the Inquiries Act 2005, Baroness Hallett will conduct the inquiry into Sturgess’ death after Hallett requested that Home Secretary Priti Patel establish such an inquiry in September.

Patel commented, “We are establishing an inquiry to ensure that all relevant evidence can be considered, with the hope that the family of Dawn Sturgess will get the answers they need and deserve.”

Russian intelligence operatives are believed to have coordinated the poisoning. It is not the first time that the country has faced criticism over its use of chemical weapons. The country allegedly also used nerve agents against Alexei Navalny, who has publicly criticized Russia and its President, Vladimir Putin.

The European Union and the UK imposed sanctions on Russia in respect of the poisoning in 2020. Further, in March, the US imposed export restrictions to sanction Russia over the attempted Skripal and Navalny poisonings.