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Long road to the truth for Litvinenko family Long road to the truth for Litvinenko family
(about 11 hours later)
The image of Alexander Litvinenko defiant but dying from radioactive poisoning in a London hospital bed is how the world remembers the former Russian intelligence officer.The image of Alexander Litvinenko defiant but dying from radioactive poisoning in a London hospital bed is how the world remembers the former Russian intelligence officer.
But that is not the way his widow, Marina, and son, Anatoly, 21, want to remember him.But that is not the way his widow, Marina, and son, Anatoly, 21, want to remember him.
The photos they spread across a kitchen table tell the story of Litvinenko's life, not his death.The photos they spread across a kitchen table tell the story of Litvinenko's life, not his death.
There is a picture of him aged 17 in military uniform. He became part of the security apparatus - what was the KGB and, after the end of the Soviet Union, the FSB.There is a picture of him aged 17 in military uniform. He became part of the security apparatus - what was the KGB and, after the end of the Soviet Union, the FSB.
Another picture shows him sitting astride a tank - a man who fought for his country.Another picture shows him sitting astride a tank - a man who fought for his country.
What we know about the Litvinenko caseWhat we know about the Litvinenko case
Alexander Litvinenko: Profile of murdered Russian spyAlexander Litvinenko: Profile of murdered Russian spy
A deadly trail of poloniumA deadly trail of polonium
But there is also an image from a press conference in which he spoke out about corruption in the FSB.But there is also an image from a press conference in which he spoke out about corruption in the FSB.
He went to see the FSB's newly appointed director to complain, hoping he would act. But, instead, Litvinenko was cast out. The director's name was Vladimir Putin.He went to see the FSB's newly appointed director to complain, hoping he would act. But, instead, Litvinenko was cast out. The director's name was Vladimir Putin.
Alongside the pictures of his work, are those of his personal life - holding his newborn son, teaching Anatoly to swim on his back, and playing with him on a sofa. Anatoly looks away from these.Alongside the pictures of his work, are those of his personal life - holding his newborn son, teaching Anatoly to swim on his back, and playing with him on a sofa. Anatoly looks away from these.
"I try not to think too much about my early childhood," he says. "It is easier that way.""I try not to think too much about my early childhood," he says. "It is easier that way."
Soon after speaking out over corruption, Litvinenko made the decision to flee Russia for his and his family's safety.Soon after speaking out over corruption, Litvinenko made the decision to flee Russia for his and his family's safety.
He arrived in London and eventually became a British citizen, in 2006.He arrived in London and eventually became a British citizen, in 2006.
Within weeks of that event, he would be poisoned.Within weeks of that event, he would be poisoned.
The journey to the current inquiry has been tortuous.The journey to the current inquiry has been tortuous.
An inquest began but then hit a brick wall when the government said much of the information it held was classified and could not be revealed in public.An inquest began but then hit a brick wall when the government said much of the information it held was classified and could not be revealed in public.
The only solution, Sir Robert Owen, a judge sitting as coroner responded, was a public inquiry.The only solution, Sir Robert Owen, a judge sitting as coroner responded, was a public inquiry.
The government resisted that option, but Marina Litvinenko continued to fight through the courts.The government resisted that option, but Marina Litvinenko continued to fight through the courts.
Eventually, the Home Office relented, a decision many saw as the result of a downturn in relations with Russia.Eventually, the Home Office relented, a decision many saw as the result of a downturn in relations with Russia.
Anatoly had little understanding of his father's work when he was a child, and it was only the inquiry that helped him understand the extent to which Litvinenko had remained involved in the world of security and intelligence.Anatoly had little understanding of his father's work when he was a child, and it was only the inquiry that helped him understand the extent to which Litvinenko had remained involved in the world of security and intelligence.
This included working for Britain's Secret Intelligence Service MI6.This included working for Britain's Secret Intelligence Service MI6.
The inquiry revealed how Litvinenko was receiving regular payments for consultancy work and had a case officer (known as Martin) he met regularly.The inquiry revealed how Litvinenko was receiving regular payments for consultancy work and had a case officer (known as Martin) he met regularly.
The details of the poisoning itself have long been known, although fresh information did emerge, which linked Andrei Lugovoi and Dimitri Kovtun to multiple attempts to kill Litvinenko.The details of the poisoning itself have long been known, although fresh information did emerge, which linked Andrei Lugovoi and Dimitri Kovtun to multiple attempts to kill Litvinenko.
Those two men have denied any role and Russia says it cannot extradite them to face charges.Those two men have denied any role and Russia says it cannot extradite them to face charges.
And the crucial issue in the report is that of state responsibility.And the crucial issue in the report is that of state responsibility.
"You want to find out who was behind the murder, who planned it, who commissioned it," Anatoly says."You want to find out who was behind the murder, who planned it, who commissioned it," Anatoly says.
"That is why state responsibility is important to us.""That is why state responsibility is important to us."
Most observers expect some kind of finding of state responsibility, but whether there is enough evidence to name individuals - including up to the Russian leader himself - is unclear.Most observers expect some kind of finding of state responsibility, but whether there is enough evidence to name individuals - including up to the Russian leader himself - is unclear.
One thing that did emerge, though, was a personal animosity between Mr Putin and Litvinenko.One thing that did emerge, though, was a personal animosity between Mr Putin and Litvinenko.
"They disliked each other immensely, because Litvinenko complained about corruption… and Putin shelved his report," says Litvinenko's friend Alex Goldfarb."They disliked each other immensely, because Litvinenko complained about corruption… and Putin shelved his report," says Litvinenko's friend Alex Goldfarb.
"And Putin considered Litvinenko, after the fact, a traitor for going public with his allegations.""And Putin considered Litvinenko, after the fact, a traitor for going public with his allegations."
Why targeted?Why targeted?
The specific trigger for the killing has also been the subject of speculation.The specific trigger for the killing has also been the subject of speculation.
Litvinenko had been vociferous and outspoken in his accusations about the Kremlin from London - co-writing a book accusing the Russian security services of bombing Moscow apartments to justify a war in Chechnya.Litvinenko had been vociferous and outspoken in his accusations about the Kremlin from London - co-writing a book accusing the Russian security services of bombing Moscow apartments to justify a war in Chechnya.
But it may well have been his work investigating specific individuals in the Kremlin and their ties to the mafia that warranted his killing.But it may well have been his work investigating specific individuals in the Kremlin and their ties to the mafia that warranted his killing.
He had already helped Spanish prosecutors arrest a number of individuals and was due to travel out to give further evidence when he was poisoned.He had already helped Spanish prosecutors arrest a number of individuals and was due to travel out to give further evidence when he was poisoned.
One of the people he had told about that work (and was due to travel to Spain with) was Andrei Lugovoi.One of the people he had told about that work (and was due to travel to Spain with) was Andrei Lugovoi.
The issue of state responsibility has ramifications beyond the Litvinenko case.The issue of state responsibility has ramifications beyond the Litvinenko case.
An inquest is due to start in Surrey in the coming months into the death of Alexander Perepilichnyy.An inquest is due to start in Surrey in the coming months into the death of Alexander Perepilichnyy.
He had come to Britain with information of corruption inside the Russian state.He had come to Britain with information of corruption inside the Russian state.
It is not yet clear whether he was murdered, but Bill Browder, whose own lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, was killed in Russia, believes he was.It is not yet clear whether he was murdered, but Bill Browder, whose own lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, was killed in Russia, believes he was.
"Anything that potentially exposes money that the government crime figures are collecting puts the person who exposes that money at a risk of being killed," Mr Browder says."Anything that potentially exposes money that the government crime figures are collecting puts the person who exposes that money at a risk of being killed," Mr Browder says.
He says not enough has been done in the wake of the Litvinenko killing.He says not enough has been done in the wake of the Litvinenko killing.
"If the Russian government sends assassins to the United Kingdom to kill people and there are no consequences, it basically givens them a green light to keep on killing people," he says."If the Russian government sends assassins to the United Kingdom to kill people and there are no consequences, it basically givens them a green light to keep on killing people," he says.
Mr Browder says the UK and EU should "at a minimum" impose individual sanctions such as asset freezes and travel bans on people in the Russian government shown to have any responsibility for the Litvinenko killing.Mr Browder says the UK and EU should "at a minimum" impose individual sanctions such as asset freezes and travel bans on people in the Russian government shown to have any responsibility for the Litvinenko killing.
British diplomats involved in the Litvinenko case accept the measures taken at the time may not have been strong enough to deter Russia (these included the expulsion of diplomats and the suspension of intelligence cooperation, which was of relatively small importance anyway).British diplomats involved in the Litvinenko case accept the measures taken at the time may not have been strong enough to deter Russia (these included the expulsion of diplomats and the suspension of intelligence cooperation, which was of relatively small importance anyway).
But the signs are the British state may not be keen at this moment to further escalate tensions with Russia, particularly because of Moscow's role in the Middle East and the Syria crisis.But the signs are the British state may not be keen at this moment to further escalate tensions with Russia, particularly because of Moscow's role in the Middle East and the Syria crisis.
The Litvinenko caseThe Litvinenko case
Marina and Anatoly Litvinenko are aware the political context around the inquiry has changed and may shape the response.Marina and Anatoly Litvinenko are aware the political context around the inquiry has changed and may shape the response.
They also recognise the report may be a milestone but might not not end their struggle.They also recognise the report may be a milestone but might not not end their struggle.
"It is important, but it is not necessarily the end," says Marina."It is important, but it is not necessarily the end," says Marina.
And Anatoly says: "I feel a sense of duty.And Anatoly says: "I feel a sense of duty.
"My father did a hell of a lot to get me to this country to make sure I was safe."My father did a hell of a lot to get me to this country to make sure I was safe.
"I need to respect that and do whatever I can to honour his memory." "I need to respect that and do whatever I can to honour his memory.
"Finding the truth is the closest we can get to justice for my father" "Finding the truth is the closest we can get to justice for my father."