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British Inquiry Into Death of Ex-K.G.B. Officer Begins British Inquiry Into Death of Ex-K.G.B. Officer Begins
(about 1 hour later)
LONDON — A senior British judge opened a frequently delayed public inquiry on Tuesday into the death of Alexander V. Litvinenko, a former K.G.B. officer, whistle-blower and opponent of the Kremlin who was poisoned with a rare radioactive isotope, polonium 210, as he sipped tea in an upscale London hotel in November 2006.LONDON — A senior British judge opened a frequently delayed public inquiry on Tuesday into the death of Alexander V. Litvinenko, a former K.G.B. officer, whistle-blower and opponent of the Kremlin who was poisoned with a rare radioactive isotope, polonium 210, as he sipped tea in an upscale London hotel in November 2006.
The judge, Robert Owen, has indicated that the inquiry, the most detailed public scrutiny so far of the poisoning, could last about 10 weeks and would cover Mr. Litvinenko’s personal life before and after he fled Russia in 2000 to seek asylum with his family in London.The judge, Robert Owen, has indicated that the inquiry, the most detailed public scrutiny so far of the poisoning, could last about 10 weeks and would cover Mr. Litvinenko’s personal life before and after he fled Russia in 2000 to seek asylum with his family in London.
Mr. Litvinenko’s widow, Marina, entered Court 73 of the Royal Courts of Justice shortly before the hearing began at 10 a.m.Mr. Litvinenko’s widow, Marina, entered Court 73 of the Royal Courts of Justice shortly before the hearing began at 10 a.m.
The inquiry is scheduled to consider a range of potential situations, including the possible involvement of Russian state agencies, British spies and others in his death. A lawyer for the inquiry, in preparatory hearings, has already said there is “prima facie evidence” of Russian state involvement. The inquiry is scheduled to consider a range of potential situations, including the possible involvement of Russian state agencies, British spies and others in his death.
Much of the most sensitive testimony will be heard in secret, and parts of Judge Owen’s final report, he has said, will not make reference to evidence that the British authorities deem harmful to national security. As he opened the inquiry, Judge Owen said the hearings would deal with “matters of the utmost gravity,” including assertions in British government documents that there was “prima facie evidence” of Russian state involvement.
Mr. Litvinenko, 43, died on Nov. 23, 2006, but the presence of lethal levels of polonium was made known only a day after his death. The British authorities have identified two suspects who were with Mr. Litvinenko when he had tea in the Pine Bar of the Millennium Hotel in Grosvenor Square, close to the United States Embassy in central London. He said he would conduct a “full and independent” inquiry, although parts of it would be in secret, and that the two main suspects indentified by the British authorities — Andrei K. Lugovoi and Dmitri V. Kovtun — would be invited to testify by video link from Russia.
Both men — Andrei K. Lugovoi and Dmitri V. Kovtun — have denied killing Mr. Litvinenko, accusing the former K.G.B. officer of seeking to poison them. British prosecutors have sought the extradition of Mr. Lugovoi, a former K.G.B. bodyguard, but the Russian authorities have refused to hand him over, citing constitutional constraints. Robin Tam, the inquiry’s counsel, reiterated that the inquiry would not address the issue of whether the British authorities should have protected Mr. Litvinenko.
Parts of Judge Owen’s final report will not make reference to evidence that the British authorities deem harmful to national security.
Mr. Litvinenko, 43, died on Nov. 23, 2006, but the presence of lethal levels of polonium was made known only a day after his death. The British authorities have said Mr. Lugovoi and Mr. Kovtun were with Mr. Litvinenko when he had tea in the Pine Bar of the Millennium Hotel in Grosvenor Square, close to the United States Embassy in central London.
Both men have denied killing Mr. Litvinenko, accusing the former K.G.B. officer of seeking to poison them. British prosecutors have sought the extradition of Mr. Lugovoi, a former K.G.B. bodyguard, but the Russian authorities have refused to hand him over, citing constitutional constraints.
Since Mr. Litvinenko’s death, Mr. Lugovoi has become a member of the Russian Parliament.Since Mr. Litvinenko’s death, Mr. Lugovoi has become a member of the Russian Parliament.
In the prelude to the inquiry, new strands of potential evidence have emerged in news reports suggesting variously that the poisoning was the third attempt on Mr. Litvinenko’s life and that, one year before he died, he had recorded a secret audiotape linking President Vladimir V. Putin to a Ukrainian crime boss.In the prelude to the inquiry, new strands of potential evidence have emerged in news reports suggesting variously that the poisoning was the third attempt on Mr. Litvinenko’s life and that, one year before he died, he had recorded a secret audiotape linking President Vladimir V. Putin to a Ukrainian crime boss.
In a contentious statement from his deathbed, Mr. Litvinenko blamed Mr. Putin for the poisoning, but the Russian leader has denied the accusation.In a contentious statement from his deathbed, Mr. Litvinenko blamed Mr. Putin for the poisoning, but the Russian leader has denied the accusation.
Russian prosecutors, who once held the status of so-called core participants at the inquiry, have withdrawn, and Moscow has ridiculed the hearings as a sham because of the levels of secrecy shrouding central witnesses and testimony.Russian prosecutors, who once held the status of so-called core participants at the inquiry, have withdrawn, and Moscow has ridiculed the hearings as a sham because of the levels of secrecy shrouding central witnesses and testimony.