- The UK government has imposed sanctions on nine Russian individuals and organisations for their involvement in the development of chemical weapons, including Novichok and Epibatidine.
- These targeted measures include asset freezes and travel bans, applying to seven individuals and two specific research institutes.
- The Novichok nerve agent was previously used in the 2018 Salisbury assassination plot, which led to the death of Dawn Sturgess and the attempted poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.
- Additionally, the Epibatidine toxin was deployed against Alexei Navalny, a prominent Russian opposition leader and critic of Vladimir Putin.
- Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned Russia's actions as a 'sickening violation of international law' and a 'direct threat to global security', vowing to continue holding those responsible accountable.
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