It's been around since the 70's Wilki,i think finding out whether this is state sponsored or not isn't too much to ask for.
I know and isn't it illegal or against some kind of chemical weapons convention? The fact that it is only the Russians that have it and that it's very heavily guarded, would more than suggest that it's state sponsored. Add to the fact that this chap had been threatened in the past by the Kremlin and it's not too hard to work out who's behind it really.