According to the Swiss Institute for the Protection of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Weapons (Schweizerisches Institut für ABC-Schutz), the poison found at Salisbury by OPCW investigators looking into the Skripal affair, is the toxic agent known as “BZ”.

The name “Novichok” refers to a Soviet research programme rather than a substance that resulted from this programme.

“BZ” is a Nato nerve-poisoning agent that takes 30-60 minutes to act and whose effects last for two to four days. What was then the USSR and what is now Russia, have never worked on this type of substance.

The Swiss Institute for the Protection of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical weapons is a world-renowned centre of excellence. It proceeded to analyse the substance found at Salisbury at the request of the OPCW.