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Russia: 'Absurd' to Link It to Nerve Agent Death of British Woman

by VOA News

   Russia says it would be "absurd" to link Moscow to the death of a
   British woman who died after being exposed to the same nerve agent that
   sickened an ex-Russian spy earlier this year.

   Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia is "deeply concerned about
   the ongoing poisoning incidents on British soil" but said he has no
   information on Russia being involved.

   British police have opened a murder investigation after Dawn Sturgess,
   44, died in a hospital in Salisbury, in southern England.

   She fell sick on June 30 along with another victim, Charles Rowley, who
   is hospitalized in critical condition.

   Police say both were poisoned with Novichok -- the same substance that
   poisoned former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Julia in
   March. Both survived.

   Britain has blamed Russia for the Skripal poisonings -- a charge Russia
   denies.

   Police suspect Sturgess and Rowley picked up vial that contained the
   poison, and are trying to find out exactly what they found and where.

   British Home Secretary Sajid Javid visited the Salisbury region
   Saturday to assure residents that the chances of getting sick from a
   nerve agent are very slight.