As the first anniversary of the poisoning nears, the parents of the woman who died in what became an international incident said they still have many questions unanswered, British newspaper The Guardian reported.
Stan and Caroline Sturgess, whose daughter Dawn died in the incident, said they did not hate Russia for what had happened and criticised the decision by British authorities to settle the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, which they say exposed residents to risk.
Mr Sturgess said he did not care whether the alleged attackers were put in prison but wanted the British government to answer the questions that are still lingering.
“I want justice from our own government. What are they hiding? I don’t think they have given us all the facts. If anyone, I blame the government for putting Skripal in Salisbury.”
The attack had been aimed at Mr Skripal, who collapsed in Salisbury on 4 March last year after being poisoned on the outskirts of the city together with his daughter.
On 30 June, Dawn Sturgess, 44, and her boyfriend, Charlie Rowley, fell ill in Amesbury, 11 miles north of Salisbury.
Speaking of Mr Skripal and his daughter, Yulia – who are now in hiding – Ms Sturgess’ father said he didn’t “know where Skripal is and I don’t know what I’d do if I met him. He’s still got his daughter.”
His wife said “he [Skripal] took risks – he must have known there was a chance people were still after him.”
The family also expressed their anger at the way their daughter had initially portrayed. A mother of three from a very respectable family, she was unfairly portrayed as a homeless drug user.
“They were trying to get out the message that ‘this couldn’t happen to you, don’t worry, it’s because of their lifestyle’,” Caroline said.
The Sturgesses believe more Novichok could be found. “This could happen again,” said Caroline. “There could be another package out there.”
