LONDON — An investigation into the 2018 poisoning incident that claimed the life of a British woman is set to commence this Monday, providing a chance to delve deeper into potential connections with Russia surrounding the event.

Dawn Sturgess and her boyfriend fell critically ill after handling a perfume bottle that contained the nerve agent Novichok in Amesbury, a town in south-west England. While Sturgess sadly passed away a few days later, her partner was fortunate enough to recover.

This incident occurred just three months following the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, who also suffered from exposure to Novichok in Salisbury, a nearby city.

The British government has attributed responsibility for these attacks to Russian intelligence, a claim Moscow has strongly denied. President Vladimir Putin dismissed Skripal, who was a double agent for Britain during the Cold War, characterizing him as a “scumbag” and alleging that he holds no significance for the Kremlin, especially since he was part of a spy exchange in 2010.

The Skripals themselves will not participate in the upcoming inquiry, citing concerns for their safety as the reason.

Heather Hallett, who oversaw the initial inquest into Sturgess’ death in 2018, has expressed the necessity of a public inquiry to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the woman’s demise. Unlike standard inquests typically held when the cause of death is unclear or violent, public inquiries can evaluate sensitive intelligence information.