UK Imposes Sanctions on Russian Individuals Linked to Chemical Weapons in Alexei Navalny and Dawn Sturgess Cases

The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on Russian individuals involved in the research, development, and production of the lethal Novichok nerve agents and the toxic substance Epibatidine, which were used in the poisoning incidents involving Alexei Navalny and Dawn Sturgess. Following the revelation of Navalny’s death in 2024, the UK is taking steps to highlight Russia’s severe breach of the Chemical Weapons Convention, urging the nation to cease its perilous activities.

In anticipation of the NATO Summit in Ankara, the UK remains committed to exposing and deterring Russia’s egregious use of chemical weapons, both in conflict zones and beyond. On 6 July, sanctions were announced against seven individuals and two prominent scientific research institutions linked to Russia’s illicit chemical weapons programme.

Targeting Key Individuals and Institutions

The latest sanctions specifically target those responsible for the development of Epibatidine and Novichok, the very toxins used to poison Navalny, a Russian opposition figure, and British citizen Dawn Sturgess. The measures directly affect two leading research centres and key personnel engaged in the creation and production of toxic chemicals, activities that are strictly prohibited under the Chemical Weapons Convention.

During the NATO Summit in Ankara, the UK will collaborate with its allies to bolster collective security in response to the persistent threat posed by a dangerously unpredictable Russia. The country’s reckless actions, including the brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine, significantly undermine democratic values.

This initiative represents a continued effort by the UK to expose and deter Russia’s unlawful chemical weapons activities. This follows a unified stance taken by allies at the Munich Security Conference in February, which condemned the circumstances surrounding Navalny’s death while in Russian detention. The UK holds the Russian state accountable, citing that it had the means, motive, and opportunity to deploy the deadly toxin against Navalny.

Statements from Leadership

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper remarked, “Russia’s persistent use of chemical weapons constitutes a repugnant violation of international law and poses a direct threat to global security. From the utilisation of Novichok nerve agents in Salisbury to Epibatidine in Siberia, the Russian state continues to employ barbaric methods to inflict harm on innocent civilians, including in Ukraine.”

Cooper further emphasised the UK’s commitment to denouncing Russia’s violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention, holding accountable those responsible, and collaborating with allies to prevent the further use of these dangerous substances.

The individuals sanctioned include directors and technical experts from leading Russian scientific research institutes focused on the development and synthesis of toxic chemicals. Notable institutions affected by the sanctions include SC Signal, GNIII VM (the State Scientific Research and Testing Institute for Military Medicine), and GosNIIOKhT (the State Scientific Research Institute for Organic Chemistry and Technology), which faced sanctions from the UK previously in October 2020.

Details of Sanctioned Individuals and Institutes

Among those sanctioned are Vladimir Kondratyev, who co-authored research on Epibatidine’s toxic properties, as well as Andrei Antokhin and Viktor Taranchenko, who have conducted studies on Novichok nerve agents. This announcement comes just ahead of the NATO Summit in Ankara, where the UK will continue to work closely with allies to provide military assistance to Ukraine and enhance its defensive capabilities.

With this latest round of sanctions, the UK has now sanctioned over 3,400 individuals and entities in response to Russia’s aggressive actions in Ukraine. The UK pledges to persist in exposing and countering Russia’s hostile activities whenever possible.

Upcoming International Engagements

This announcement precedes the 112th Executive Council session of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), scheduled to take place in The Hague from 7 to 10 July. The individuals sanctioned today include:

• ARTUR ZHIROV – Director of SC Signal
• ANDREI ANTOKHIN – Deputy Head of SC Signal
• SERGEI CHEPUR – Head of GNIII VM
• VLADIMIR KONDRATYEV – Director at GosNIIOKhT
• ALEKSANDR MAKHLAY – Chief Scientist at SC Signal
• IVAN KRAVSTOV – Head of the 4th Scientific Research Department at SC Signal
• VIKTOR TARANCHENKO – Head of the 1st Scientific Research Centre at SC Signal

The two entities sanctioned today are:

• SC SIGNAL (also known as NTs SIGNAL), a Russian state scientific research institute
• GNIII VM, the State Research Institute of Military Medicine

For further information, please refer to the UK Sanctions List available on the government website.