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Litvinenko inquiry says Putin 'probably' responsible for ordering death – live Alexander Litvinenko murder: UK freezes assets of chief suspects – live
(35 minutes later)
11.44am GMT
11:44
May says the closed version of the Owen report - the secret one - includes a recommendation to the government. She cannot discuss that, she says, but the government will respond in due course.
11.42am GMT
11:42
May says the government has threat out the range of threats facing the UK, including from Russia, in its strategic security and defence review.
Since the last SSDR Russia has become more authoritarian, aggressive and nationalist, she says. It is a threat to European security.
Updated
at 11.43am GMT
11.41am GMT
11:41
May says the technological advances are changing the threats facing Britain.
More money has been allocated to the intelligence agencies, she says.
11.40am GMT
11:40
May says the Russian ambassador will be summoned to the Foreign Office to be told about the government’s anger about this case.
11.39am GMT
11:39
May says the Treasury is imposing asset freezes on Lugovoi and Kovtun.
May says the inquiry found that Litvinenko was deliberately poisoned by Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun, acting on behalf of others. The operation was probably approved by President Putin, she says.
She says the government takes this “extremely seriously”.
The conclusion that the Russian state was probably involved is extremely disturbing, she says. This was “a blatant and fundamental breach of the most fundamental tenents of international law and civilised behaviour”.
But it was not a surprise, she says, in the light of Russia’s behaviour.
She says international arrest warrants are still out for Lugovoi and Kovtun.
11.35am GMT
11:35
Theresa May's statement
Theresa May, the home secretary, is making her statement now.
She says the death of Litvinenko was shocking. She set up the inquiry, and welcomes its report, she says.
She hopes the findings provide some “clarity” for Litvinenko’s family and friends. She pays tribute to his widow Marina for her “tireless” efforts to find the truth about his death.
11.33am GMT
11:33
Andrew Sparrow
I’m Andrew Sparrow and I will be taking over from Matthew for a while, covering Theresa May’s Commons statement about the inquiry findings. May is due to start in the next few minutes.
Earlier in the Commons Chris Bryant, the shadow leader of the Commons, and a persistent critic of Putin’s Russia, urged the government to implement a Magnitsky Act. He said:
Of course I fully understand why the government wants to engage with Russia, she is a key player in Iran and in Syria.
But the one thing we know for certain about the murderous kleptomaniac regime in Russia is that it walks all over the weak.
Putin has no respect for those who let him do what he wants.
On March 7 2012 this House declared unanimously that it wanted the government to introduce a Magnitsky Act, ensuring that nobody involved in the murder of Sergei Magnitsky or the corruption that he unveiled should be able to enter this country.
The USA has such an act - is it not time that we made absolutely clear that Russian murderers are not welcome in this country and that the likes of Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitri Kovtun can only enter the country if they are prepared to stand trial?”
11.25am GMT
11:25
Downing Street says findings are 'extremely disturbing'
Rowena Mason
Downing Street said the findings were “extremely disturbing” but the government would have to weigh up any further actions in light of the need to work with Russia on tackling Isis, writes Rowena Mason.
David Cameron’s official spokeswoman said the report “regrettably confirms what we and previous governments already believed to date”, which is why action were already taken against Russia in 2007.
“We have to weigh carefully need to take measures with the broader need to work with Russia on certain issues,” she said.
The spokeswoman added: “When you look at the threat from Daesh, it is an example of where you put... national security first.”
She said measures against Russia including expelling four embassy officials, tighter visa controls on diplomatic staff and limiting cooperation with the FSB were still in place.
11.21am GMT
11:21
Theresa May is due to give a statement in the Commons at around 11.30. At that point our political live blogger Andrew Sparrow will take over this blog.
Statement from Home Secretary Theresa May on #Litvinenko Inquiry follows Business Questions at approx 11.30am https://t.co/pgUk9c51S4
Updated
at 11.23am GMT
11.20am GMT
11:20
What are the prospects of Lugovoi and Kovtun being extradited, Emmerson is asked. He says this will only happen if Putin falls from power. He pointed out that Lugovoi was given a medal by Putin.
11.18am GMT
11:18
Emmerson accuses Russia of “political bluster” in its response to the report. He said those implicated had commented on the report without reading it.
11.15am GMT
11:15
Marina Litvinenko’s QC said Ben Emmerson there was so much radioactive material released into London during the murder that it should be a matter of public safety to respond.
He said a list of names has been supplied to the British government who should be sanctioned. “It would be crazy for the prime minister to do nothing in response,” Emmerson said. The first function of the state is to keep its citizen safe, he said.
11.11am GMT
11:11
Shaun Walker
Yesterday I spoke to Viktor Ivanov, a close Putin ally who had been implicated in ordering the hit by lawyers for Marina Litvinenko during the inquiry, writes Shaun Walker.
He was angry and said the inquiry had not contacted him to give evidence.
The report finds that a damning report Litvinenko wrote into Ivanov’s background, which may have found its way back into his hands, was drafted too soon before the operation began to kill him to have served as the trigger for the assassination.
“I do not therefore think that either of these matters was a fundamental cause of the decision to kill Mr Litvinenko,” says page 228 of the report. However, the judge concluded that there is a possibility that “these considerations may have provided extra motivation and impetus to a plan that had already been conceived.
11.09am GMT11.09am GMT
11:0911:09
Shaun WalkerShaun Walker
We have already heard that there will be “serious consequences” for bilateral relationship with Britain, but any Russian actions are likely to be calibrated according to how tough Britain’s political response to the inquiry’s findings turns out to be, writes Shaun Walker in Moscow.We have already heard that there will be “serious consequences” for bilateral relationship with Britain, but any Russian actions are likely to be calibrated according to how tough Britain’s political response to the inquiry’s findings turns out to be, writes Shaun Walker in Moscow.
We can expect some aggressive rhetoric over the “illegitimate” and “politicised” nature of the hearing today, but the ideal outcome for Moscow will be to brush the results under the carpet. Moscow is already under sanctions for its actions in Crimea and Ukraine, and has no appetite to get into another round of reciprocal measures. However, if London does decide the allegations are so serious that there has to be a robust response, we can expect indignation and some kind of symmetrical action from Moscow.We can expect some aggressive rhetoric over the “illegitimate” and “politicised” nature of the hearing today, but the ideal outcome for Moscow will be to brush the results under the carpet. Moscow is already under sanctions for its actions in Crimea and Ukraine, and has no appetite to get into another round of reciprocal measures. However, if London does decide the allegations are so serious that there has to be a robust response, we can expect indignation and some kind of symmetrical action from Moscow.
While the inquiry was clear that Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun carried out the attack with the backing of the Russian state, for now the Russian focus is likely to be on the inquiry’s formulation that the hit was “probably” ordered by Vladimir Putin and the lack of any certain conclusions as to who ordered the hit.While the inquiry was clear that Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun carried out the attack with the backing of the Russian state, for now the Russian focus is likely to be on the inquiry’s formulation that the hit was “probably” ordered by Vladimir Putin and the lack of any certain conclusions as to who ordered the hit.
Numerous officials have told me they believe the inquiry to be a purely politicised process, and the first official responses we have been hearing from the foreign ministry and other official sources are taking the same line today.Numerous officials have told me they believe the inquiry to be a purely politicised process, and the first official responses we have been hearing from the foreign ministry and other official sources are taking the same line today.
The new British ambassador in Moscow, Laurie Bristow, arrived in Russia just ten days ago, and has a challenging start to his tenure. With Britain eager to keep contacts with Russia over Syria and other issues, he is likely to be working to smooth over the effects of the report with various Russian contacts.The new British ambassador in Moscow, Laurie Bristow, arrived in Russia just ten days ago, and has a challenging start to his tenure. With Britain eager to keep contacts with Russia over Syria and other issues, he is likely to be working to smooth over the effects of the report with various Russian contacts.
Updated
at 11.11am GMT
11.07am GMT11.07am GMT
11:0711:07
Here’s the key clip from Owen’s statement.Here’s the key clip from Owen’s statement.
Updated
at 11.28am GMT
11.05am GMT11.05am GMT
11:0511:05
Marina Litvinenko is giving a press conference. She starts by rereading the statement she gave earlier outside the High Court.Marina Litvinenko is giving a press conference. She starts by rereading the statement she gave earlier outside the High Court.
11.03am GMT11.03am GMT
11:0311:03
Here’s the key passage from Owen’s statement:Here’s the key passage from Owen’s statement:
“All the evidence points in one direction namely that when they [Lugovoi and Kovtun] killed Mr Litvinenko they were acting on behalf of someone else. I have concluded that there is a strong probability that when Mr Lugovoi poisoned Mr Litvinenko he did so under the direction of the FSB - the Federal Security Service of the Russia Federation ...“All the evidence points in one direction namely that when they [Lugovoi and Kovtun] killed Mr Litvinenko they were acting on behalf of someone else. I have concluded that there is a strong probability that when Mr Lugovoi poisoned Mr Litvinenko he did so under the direction of the FSB - the Federal Security Service of the Russia Federation ...
I have further concluded the FSB operation to kill Mr Litvinenko was probably approved by Mr [Nikolai] Patrushev, then head of the FSB, and also by President Putin.I have further concluded the FSB operation to kill Mr Litvinenko was probably approved by Mr [Nikolai] Patrushev, then head of the FSB, and also by President Putin.
10.55am GMT10.55am GMT
10:5510:55
Here’s audio of Sir Robert Owen’s statement on Litvinenko’s death.Here’s audio of Sir Robert Owen’s statement on Litvinenko’s death.
10.51am GMT10.51am GMT
10:5110:51
Owen said that Litvinenko did not poison himself as Lugovoi claimed. He said the evidence showed there can be no doubt that Litvinenko was killed by Lugovoi and Kovtun.Owen said that Litvinenko did not poison himself as Lugovoi claimed. He said the evidence showed there can be no doubt that Litvinenko was killed by Lugovoi and Kovtun.
Neither had any personal reason to kill Litvinenko. He said there was “strong probability” than when Lugovoi and Kovtun poisoned him they were acting on the orders of the Russian state.Neither had any personal reason to kill Litvinenko. He said there was “strong probability” than when Lugovoi and Kovtun poisoned him they were acting on the orders of the Russian state.
10.48am GMT10.48am GMT
10:4810:48
Sir Robert Owen reminds us that the home secretery Theresa May initially refused to have public inquiry. He said this had to be challenged in court by Marina Litvinenko.Sir Robert Owen reminds us that the home secretery Theresa May initially refused to have public inquiry. He said this had to be challenged in court by Marina Litvinenko.
10.43am GMT
10:43
Russia dismisses report as 'politically motivated'
Shaun Walker
Russia’s foreign ministry has dismissed the inquiry as “politically motivated” and complained that it lacked transparency.
Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, gave this statement translated by Shaun Walker.
Of course we need time to carefully study this document, after which we’ll give a proper evaluation.
However, I can say that the Russian position on this issue is well known and unchanged. We regret that a purely criminal case has been politicised and has darkened the general atmosphere of our bilateral relations. It’s obvious that the decision to end the coroner’s investigation and start the public hearing had a clear political subtext. The process, despite its name, was not transparent either for Russia or for the general public, given the fact that some material was heard in closed session under the pretext of its secret nature.
Taking this into account, there was little grounds to expect that the final report of a process that was politically motivated and highly opaque, and prepared with a pre-determined “correct” result in mind, would suddenly turn out to be objective and balanced.
Updated
at 10.44am GMT
10.39am GMT
10:39
Sir Robert Owen is giving a press conference at the Royal Courts of Justice on his report.
The full text of his report is available here.
10.32am GMT
10:32
The report is is unlikely to have a significant impact on bilateral relations or on UK policy towards Russia, according to Alex Nice, analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit.
A few years ago, during the period of the US “reset” when much of the West was trying to rebuild relations with Russia, the findings of the inquiry could have put the UK government in an awkward position. Indeed, this may be why the inquiry was delayed for so many years. But relations are now so bad that it is difficult to see how this will have a major impact. Once the UK had imposed sanctions on Russia over Ukraine, the diplomatic risks of publicly accusing the Kremlin of murder were much reduced. Having said that, the argument that the UK should try to “re-engage” with Russia will inevitably return at some point. When that happens, the Litvenenko findings will strengthen the case of the sceptics.
10.29am GMT
10:29
The report says the operation to kill Litvinenko was probably approved by Nikolai Patrushev and President Putin.
Shaun Walker has more on Patrushev.
Nikolai Patrushev is one of the key figures in Putin’s system; he is one of many close to the Russian president who came through the ranks of the KGB in Leningrad, like Putin himself.
Patrushev succeeded Putin as head of the FSB when Putin left in 1999 to become prime minister, and held the post for nearly a decade. In 2008, he was replaced and became head of Russia’s security council. He rarely makes public appearances but is known for hawkish statements on Nato and the west. He remains one of the few people with close, frequent access to Putin.
We published this interview with him last year.
Marina Litvinenko said travel bans and asset freezes should be imposed on Patrushev as well as Putin.
10.22am GMT
10:22
The end of Marina Litvinenko’s oral statement was difficult to make out. The text reveals that it said: “It is unthinkable that the Prime Minister would do nothing in the face of the damning findings of Sir Robert Owen”.
Marina litvinenko wants all Russian spies thrown out of the UK and travel bans. She's not giving up pic.twitter.com/u268ZTmrLY
10.16am GMT
10:16
Lugovoi dismisses report as 'absurd'
Shaun Walker
Andrei Lugovoi is reported to have dismissed the report as “absurd”.
Owen’s report said: “I am sure that Mr Lugovoi and Mr Kovtun placed the polonium 210 in the teapot at the Pine Bar on 1 November 2006”.
It added that it was “probable” Lugovoi poisoned Litvinenko under direction from the FSB, with Dmitry Kovtun “also acting under FSB direction”.
Lugovoi, who is now an MP with a nationalist political party, said: “The allegations against me are absurd,” writes Shaun Walker.
He added: “As we expected, there was no sensation. The results released to today just show London’s anti-Russian position once again; the narrow-mindedness and lack of desire among the British to find the real reason for the death of Litvinenko.”
“The 2014 events in Ukraine, which coincided with the resumption of the investigation into the Litvinenko case even though previously it had been declared secret, look like a pathetic attempt by London to use a ‘skeleton in the cupboard’ to support their political ambitions. I hope this ‘polonium process’ will once and for all dispel the myth about the impartiality of British justice.”
10.07am GMT
10:07
The Liberal Democrat party has backed Marina Litvinenko’s call for travel bans and the freezing of assets for those involved in the death.
Leader Tim Farron said: “A UK citizen was killed on the streets of London with polonium. It was an attack on the heart of Britain, our values and our society.
“I call for EU travel bans, asset freezes and coordinated action to deal with those who committed this evil assassination. I have called for a new Magnitsky Law to make sure that these people are held to account for what they did.
“These assassins trampled over British sovereignty and we cannot let this go unanswered.”
Updated
at 10.17am GMT
10.03am GMT
10:03
Russia rejects inquiry
Russia has rejected the inquiry, writes Shaun Walker.
The first reaction from Moscow came from an unnamed source speaking to the state-owned news agency RIA: “Moscow will not accept the verdict of the British court in the Litvinenko case, London has violated the principle of presumption of innocence”.
The source also said what a number of officials have said in recent days, that Moscow finds it “illegitimate” that parts of the trial were kept secret, and predicts “serious consequences” for relations between London and Moscow.
10.01am GMT
10:01
Here’s audio of Marina Litvinenko’s statement outside the High Court.
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 is unthinkable that the Prime Minister would do nothing in the face of the damning findings of Sir Robert Owen”.
Updated
at 10.19am GMT
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
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.
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
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
9.01am GMT
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.
8.52am GMT
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.
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.”
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
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.
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.”
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.”
8.20am GMT
08:20
Luke Harding
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:
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.
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.
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.
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: