Novichok victim: Let Ukraine refugees in UK now
A VICTIM of the Salisbury poison attack by Russian hitmen today says Britain MUST accept more Ukrainian refugees.
Charlie Rowley slams the Tories for claiming the risk of spies getting into the UK had delayed visas for thousands seeking sanctuary here.
He says Russia’s awful war has triggered terrifying memories of the novichok horror which cost his girlfriend Dawn Sturgess her life in 2018.
And he fears Vladimir Putin’s men could yet come back to finish him off.
But despite all that, Charlie echoes the sentiments of millions of Brits when he declares: “The Government has a duty to let more people in from this crisis – it must.
“I find it’s plain wrong they were using the attack in Salisbury as an excuse to not grant more visas and ultimately not show more compassion to those so desperately in need.
“I have more reason than most to dislike Russian spies.
“I still live with the fear that they could come back for me at any time.
“But Britain can’t turn a blind eye to desperate people who have had to flee Russian bombs.
“My heart goes out to all of the Ukrainians. Is there any proof that Russians are sneaking through the border? The Ukrainian people need our help. We need to open our doors.
DESPERATE
“There are desperate women and children out there. Britain shouldn’t turn its back on them.
“This is a humanitarian crisis. Other countries are opening their doors. Britain has always been at the forefront of helping others.”
Charlie, 48, was taken critically ill after coming into contact with novichok. He picked up what appeared to be a discarded bottle of perfume and gave it to Dawn.
But it contained the nerve agent – enough to kill Dawn and give Charlie life-changing symptoms.
The former labourer has suffered strokes, meningitis and flashbacks.
In an exclusive interview, Charlie revealed he is still haunted by his ordeal and thinks of Dawn every day.
And Russia’s bombing of civilian has triggered his anxieties.
“I, too, know what it’s like to be collateral damage in a Russian attack. They don’t care about innocent people’s lives,” he said.
It was March 2018 when the Wiltshire town of Salisbury, population 46,000, was plunged into terror after the poison attack.
Ex-Russian double-agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were targeted by hitmen who daubed deadly liquid on their front door.
The Skripals were found slumped on a park bench in the city close to death but they survived.
Mystery surrounded their illness until Charlie chanced upon a bottle of counterfeit Nina Ricci perfume in a charity shop bin some four months later and gave it to his partner Dawn.
Both were rapidly taken ill. While Charlie regained consciousness and was released from hospital after 10 days, Dawn, 44, died on July 8. It is believed she was exposed to at least 10 times the amount of nerve agent used on ex-KGB colonel Sergei and Yulia. Alleged agents Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov have been charged with their attempted murder and that of Det Sgt
Nick Bailey, poisoned after entering the
Skripals’ home. The
Russians fled the UK and are still wanted.
Charlie, who has moved to a nearby town, said: “That summer has left a huge mark on my life. Clearly the spies didn’t want to take the poison back with them and dispose of it sensibly. They just disposed of it not caring who it could affect. Sadly, it affected me.
“It’s hard to get away from the memories of what happened. It haunts me to this day.
“The attack has left me really struggling with my
health. I have problems with my right eye, I get very wheezy and out of breath easily.
“And I get numb feet, something to do with my circulation. It feels like I’m wearing three pairs of socks.
“I was on a building site for nine years. Now I couldn’t climb a ladder as my balance is affected. I couldn’t do a day’s work. I couldn’t do an hour’s work, to be honest, without catching my breath.”
A public inquiry into Dawn’s death begins this week. Charlie added: “I hope something is resolved and the truth comes out. We need answers. The hardest thing was how come I was saved and Dawn wasn’t?
“I am grateful for being alive. But I’ve carried a lot of guilt that she wouldn’t have been poisoned if I hadn’t given it to her.
“I think about Dawn every day. I have pictures of her on
the wall. The loss never leaves you.”
Charlie said Putin is “out of control” and his assault on Ukraine had affected him deeply.
He explained: “It moved me to tears. I try not to think about what happened too much but this has brought it back. Watching the scenes of bombings left me very upset.
“They were collateral damage, in a way like me, where no regard was shown for innocent people. The Russians don’t care who they drag into their conflict. They are so ruthless.”
The war has created two million Ukrainian refugees.
Last Tuesday, after just 500 visas were issued in the previous four days, immigration minister Kevin Foster said: “Sadly, we are already seeing people presenting at Calais with false documents claiming to be Ukrainian.
With incidents like Salisbury still in our minds, the Government will not take chances with the security of this country and our people.
“It is essential we do not create a choke point at places like Calais where there are dangerous people smugglers present but also to ensure the smooth flow of people through the system.”
Two days later Home Secretary Priti Patel cited Salisbury. After being forced to announce a streamlined online visa application system, she said: “What happened in Salisbury showed what Putin is willing to do on our soil.
It also demonstrated a small number of people with evil intentions can wreak havoc.”
But the SNP’s Stuart C McDonald fumed: “Don’t quote Salisbury at us. That has nothing to do with this.”
On Friday Ms Patel announced Ukrainians with passports could apply online for visas. And last night a scheme for refugees with no family in the UK was announced.
Under the Homes for Ukraine plan, Brits will be paid £350 a month to allow refugees to live in their homes.
Charlie said: “I really urge any readers who can to join the scheme.
“As a nation we should try and help these people as much as we can.
“I do worry this is not enough though. It would be good if the Government pledged to take a certain number of Ukrainians and tell us all that number.”
Putin targets in Mariupol and other cities are like me.. collateral damage
CHARLIE ROWLEY ON DESPAIR AT MORE VICTIMS OF RUSSIA