UK sanctions Russians developing chemical weapons used to kill Alexei Navalny and Dawn Sturgess
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Key facts
Source:UK FCDO (UK HM Treasury, Open Government Licence v3.0)
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has announced new sanctions targeting Russian entities and individuals allegedly involved in the development of chemical weapons. The measures specifically address the research and production of Novichok nerve agents and the toxin Epibatidine, which the UK links to the poisonings of Russian activist Alexei Navalny and British national Dawn Sturgess.
The sanctions target two prominent Russian scientific research institutes: SC Signal (also known as NTs SIGNAL) and the State Scientific Research and Testing Institute for Military Medicine (GNIII VM). Additionally, the State Scientific Research Institute for Organic Chemistry and Technology (GosNIIOKhT), which was previously sanctioned in 2020, is noted in the context of these ongoing efforts to address Russia's chemical weapons programme.
Seven individuals have been added to the sanctions list, including directors and technical specialists involved in chemical research. Named individuals include Artur Zhirov, Andrei Antokhin, Aleksandr Makhlay, Ivan Kravstov, and Viktor Taranchenko from SC Signal, as well as Sergei Chepur of GNIII VM and Vladimir Kondratyev of GosNIIOKhT. The UK identifies these individuals as being involved in the synthesis and testing of toxic substances.
These actions are part of the UK's broader sanctions regime against Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, which now encompasses over 3,400 targets. The announcement coincides with the NATO Summit in Ankara and precedes the Executive Council session of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague.
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