UK sanctions Russians it says developed chemical weapons used to kill Navalny
Britain Imposes Sanctions on Russian Institutes and Officials Linked to Chemical Weapons
LONDON, July 6 (Reuters) - Britain on Monday imposed sanctions on two Russian research institutes and senior staff it said were linked to Moscow's chemical weapons programme and involved in developing toxins used to poison Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny.
The sanctions, cast by Britain as a way to expose and deter Russia's use of chemical weapons, comes ahead of the NATO summit in the Turkish capital Ankara and after a similar move by the European Union.
Background on Navalny Poisonings
The 2020 Novichok Incident
In 2020, Navalny fell seriously ill on a flight in Siberia and Western laboratories concluded he had been poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent, a class of military-grade nerve agents developed during the Soviet era.
The 2024 Epibatidine Poisoning
In 2024, Navalny died after being poisoned with Epibatidine, a toxin from poison dart frogs, Britain and other European allies have said. Russia denied accusations it was behind that death.
The British government said on Monday that those sanctioned were involved in developing the Novichok agent and Epibatidine.
International and Russian Responses
Russian Embassy Reaction
Russia's embassy in London did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the new sanctions.
Statements from British Officials
Foreign minister Yvette Cooper said Russia's "repeated use of chemical weapons" was a violation of international law and a threat to global security.
"From the use of Novichok nerve agents in Salisbury to Epibatidine in Siberia, poisoning Dawn Sturgess and Alexei Navalny, Russia continues to use barbaric tools to inflict death and suffering on innocent civilians, including in Ukraine," she added.
Previous Chemical Attacks Linked to Russia
The Salisbury Poisoning
Novichok was also used in the 2018 poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury - an attack that they survived, but which led to the death of a civilian, Sturgess, who later came into contact with a discarded container of the substance.
Inquiry Findings
A British public inquiry concluded last year that Russian President Vladimir Putin must have ordered the attack by GRU intelligence operatives on Skripal.
Russian Denials
Russia has always denied any involvement in that incident, casting the accusations as anti-Russian propaganda.
(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti; writing by Muvija M; editing by William James)