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| Putin 'probably' responsible for ordering death of Alexander Litvinenko – live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 9.56am GMT | |
| 09:56 | |
| Marina Litvinenko welcomes report | |
| More from Litvinenko’s widow. | |
| Speaking outside the High Court Marina Litvinenko said she was “very pleased that the words my husband spoke on his deathbed when he accused Mr Putin have been proved by an English court.” | |
| She added: “I’m also calling for the imposing of targeted economic sanctions and travel bans against named individuals ... including Mr Putin. I received a letter last night from the home secretary promising action. It [signalled] that the prime minister would do nothing in the face of the damaging findings of Sir Robert Owen.” | |
| 9.50am GMT | |
| 09:50 | |
| Owen’s goes further than expected in raising Putin’s probable involvement, according to Luke Harding. | |
| My take: Owen's report much stronger than we expected. His conclusion – that President Putin “probably approved” Litvinenko – based on... | |
| ... secret evidence from British government agencies, including Litvinenko's old employer MI6 | |
| 9.47am GMT | |
| 09:47 | |
| Journalist Oliver Bullough tweets an image of a key paragraph from the report on Putin’s probable involvement. | |
| #Litvinenko: the paragraph that blames Putin pic.twitter.com/tI5fqofSkb | |
| 9.43am GMT | |
| 09:43 | |
| Owen concluded that Andrei Lugovoi, a former KGG agent and now a Russia MP, “probably” poisoned Litvinenko. | |
| Owen says “it's probable” Lugovoi poisoned Litvinenko under direction from the FSB, with Kovtun “also acting under FSB direction” | |
| 9.41am GMT | |
| 09:41 | |
| Marina Litvinenko welcomes the report’s “damning finding” and calls for the UK to impose sanctions on Russia. She also called on the UK to expel Russian diplomats, but had been given indications that the UK would do nothing. | |
| 9.38am GMT | |
| 09:38 | |
| Report finds Russia ordered the murder | |
| The report has been published and concludes that Russia ordered the murder of Alexander Litvinenko in Britain and that President Putin probably gave his personal approval. | |
| Russian state guilty of Alexander #Litvinenko's murder in operation "probably approved" by Vladimir #Putin and #FSB chief Nikolai Patrushev | |
| Inquiry judge Sir Robert Owen finds that Dmitry Kovtun and Andrei Lugovoi murdered Litvinenko “acting on behalf of others” | |
| 9.08am GMT | 9.08am GMT |
| 09:08 | 09:08 |
| Selected journalists, including the Guardian’s Luke Harding, are being given an early look at the report ahead of publication at 9.35am. | Selected journalists, including the Guardian’s Luke Harding, are being given an early look at the report ahead of publication at 9.35am. |
| Harding provides a rough time table of the order of play. | Harding provides a rough time table of the order of play. |
| Today's #Litvinenko timetable: 8am lock-in; 9.35am inquiry report published; 10am statement from Robert Owen; 11am Marina L press conference | Today's #Litvinenko timetable: 8am lock-in; 9.35am inquiry report published; 10am statement from Robert Owen; 11am Marina L press conference |
| There will then be statements in the Commons by the Home Secretary Theresa May at around 11.30. | There will then be statements in the Commons by the Home Secretary Theresa May at around 11.30. |
| 2 Statements confirmed at 11.30: 1. Litvinenko Inquiry - May; 2. Infected Blood: reform of financial and other support @JaneEllison | 2 Statements confirmed at 11.30: 1. Litvinenko Inquiry - May; 2. Infected Blood: reform of financial and other support @JaneEllison |
| 9.01am GMT | 9.01am GMT |
| 09:01 | 09:01 |
| Anatoly Litvinenko, the son of murdered Russian exile, talked on Wednesday about his last memories of his father. He said he wants the truth to be established. | Anatoly Litvinenko, the son of murdered Russian exile, talked on Wednesday about his last memories of his father. He said he wants the truth to be established. |
| 8.52am GMT | 8.52am GMT |
| 08:52 | 08:52 |
| Alexander Goldfarb, head of the Litvinenko Justice Foundation, called on the UK to urge the UN to condemn Russia’s over his friend’s killing. | Alexander Goldfarb, head of the Litvinenko Justice Foundation, called on the UK to urge the UN to condemn Russia’s over his friend’s killing. |
| Interviewed on the Today programme he insisted there is “proof” of Russia’s involvement. But he conceded there is no direct proof of any involvement of Russian president Vladimir Putin. | Interviewed on the Today programme he insisted there is “proof” of Russia’s involvement. But he conceded there is no direct proof of any involvement of Russian president Vladimir Putin. |
| He said: “The British government should go to the [UN] security council and demand a resolution to censure Russia – to have Russia accept responsibility and pay compensation to the victims.” | He said: “The British government should go to the [UN] security council and demand a resolution to censure Russia – to have Russia accept responsibility and pay compensation to the victims.” |
| Goldfarb also called for UK sanctions to be imposed on Russia. He said Russia’s “atomic enterprises” should be particularly targeted. | Goldfarb also called for UK sanctions to be imposed on Russia. He said Russia’s “atomic enterprises” should be particularly targeted. |
| He dismissed former Russian ambassador Tony Brenton’s suggestion that diplomatic pressures meant Britain could not take tough action against Russia. | |
| “Appeasing this kind of regime only invites more and more aggression,” he said | |
| Updated | |
| at 9.29am GMT | |
| 8.28am GMT | 8.28am GMT |
| 08:28 | 08:28 |
| Tony Brenton, who was British ambassador to Russia at the time of the killing, said it was “unlikely” any proof about who authorised the murder had turned up. | Tony Brenton, who was British ambassador to Russia at the time of the killing, said it was “unlikely” any proof about who authorised the murder had turned up. |
| Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme he said: “Our reaction was that it was likely to have been authorised at quite a high level in the Russian system because they wouldn’t do something so potentially damaging for a major power without high authorisation. | Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme he said: “Our reaction was that it was likely to have been authorised at quite a high level in the Russian system because they wouldn’t do something so potentially damaging for a major power without high authorisation. |
| But at my time there was no slam-dunk proof and I think it’s quite unlikely any real evidence has turned up as to where the authorisation has come from.” | But at my time there was no slam-dunk proof and I think it’s quite unlikely any real evidence has turned up as to where the authorisation has come from.” |
| Brenton said that while the UK must react “strongly” to the murder, “tearing up” diplomatic relations with Russia was “not in Britain’s interests”. | Brenton said that while the UK must react “strongly” to the murder, “tearing up” diplomatic relations with Russia was “not in Britain’s interests”. |
| “We have quite important other fish to fry with the Russians. They are very important in carrying the Iran de-nuclearisation through, they are absolutely crucial in sorting out the mess in Syria.” | “We have quite important other fish to fry with the Russians. They are very important in carrying the Iran de-nuclearisation through, they are absolutely crucial in sorting out the mess in Syria.” |
| 8.20am GMT | 8.20am GMT |
| 08:20 | 08:20 |
| Luke Harding | Luke Harding |
| Welcome to live coverage of the publication of the results of the public inquiry into the polonium poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko. | Welcome to live coverage of the publication of the results of the public inquiry into the polonium poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko. |
| Here’s the start of Luke Harding’s curtain raiser to the publication of the hearing: | Here’s the start of Luke Harding’s curtain raiser to the publication of the hearing: |
| Almost 10 years after he drank a cup of poisoned green tea in a Mayfair bar, the report into the murder of Alexander Litvinenko is due to be published, amid strong signs that the British government is reluctant to impose further sanctions on Russia. | Almost 10 years after he drank a cup of poisoned green tea in a Mayfair bar, the report into the murder of Alexander Litvinenko is due to be published, amid strong signs that the British government is reluctant to impose further sanctions on Russia. |
| The report will be released at 9.35am on Thursday, with Theresa May making a statement to parliament soon after. Litvinenko’s widow, Marina, who received a copy of the report on Wednesday morning, will give her reaction at a press conference with her barrister, Ben Emmerson QC, and solicitor, Elena Tsirlina. | The report will be released at 9.35am on Thursday, with Theresa May making a statement to parliament soon after. Litvinenko’s widow, Marina, who received a copy of the report on Wednesday morning, will give her reaction at a press conference with her barrister, Ben Emmerson QC, and solicitor, Elena Tsirlina. |
| David Cameron received the report, which follows a public inquiry chaired by high court judge Sir Robert Owen, on Tuesday. It is widely believed that Owen will conclude that Litvinenko – who died in November 2006 after sipping radioactive polonium – was the victim of a Russian state assassination. | David Cameron received the report, which follows a public inquiry chaired by high court judge Sir Robert Owen, on Tuesday. It is widely believed that Owen will conclude that Litvinenko – who died in November 2006 after sipping radioactive polonium – was the victim of a Russian state assassination. |
| If, as expected, the Kremlin is blamed directly, Litvinenko’s widow will demand a firm response from Downing Street. She is likely to call for fresh sanctions to be imposed on Russian politicians involved in the murder, as well as against state entities – a tough line that is also backed by the Liberal Democrats. | If, as expected, the Kremlin is blamed directly, Litvinenko’s widow will demand a firm response from Downing Street. She is likely to call for fresh sanctions to be imposed on Russian politicians involved in the murder, as well as against state entities – a tough line that is also backed by the Liberal Democrats. |
| Last year, Emmerson described Litvinenko as the victim of a “state-sponsored act of nuclear terrorism” on the streets of London, adding that “the trail of polonium led directly to the door of Vladimir Putin’s office”. Emmerson dubbed the Russian president “a common criminal dressed up as a head of state.” | Last year, Emmerson described Litvinenko as the victim of a “state-sponsored act of nuclear terrorism” on the streets of London, adding that “the trail of polonium led directly to the door of Vladimir Putin’s office”. Emmerson dubbed the Russian president “a common criminal dressed up as a head of state.” |
| At the time of his murder Litvinenko was a British citizen – and a part-time MI6 spy. Marina Litvinenko is understood to view the report as a major test for Cameron. The government’s response, she believes, will show whether Downing Street is tough on all forms of terrorism, or only tough on terrorism carried out by non-state groups. | At the time of his murder Litvinenko was a British citizen – and a part-time MI6 spy. Marina Litvinenko is understood to view the report as a major test for Cameron. The government’s response, she believes, will show whether Downing Street is tough on all forms of terrorism, or only tough on terrorism carried out by non-state groups. |
| Luke has also put together a guide to six of the key players: Andrei Lugovoi, Marina Litvinenko, Sir Robert Owen, Dmitry Kovtun, Ben Emmerson and Vladimir Putin. | Luke has also put together a guide to six of the key players: Andrei Lugovoi, Marina Litvinenko, Sir Robert Owen, Dmitry Kovtun, Ben Emmerson and Vladimir Putin. |
| And here are six key questions for the inquiry to answer: | And here are six key questions for the inquiry to answer: |