Exactly; given the loss of security, and chaos in the former republics after the fall of the Soviet Union, it is at least a plausible hypothesis that Novichok and other agents, or their formulations, could have been smuggled out, or even stashed by internal non-state actors.
Read about novichok
It is formulated from a combo of ingredients that are under no CW treaty control ( which is why it was developed)
Easy to smuggle ingredients and assemble anywhere
The reason given that it must be state-controlled is that it is “ too dangerous” for free lancers - as if we havent heard of terrorists and research labs doing dangerous stuff
Russia says at least 10 countries have it
I believe them