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Who was Alexander Litvinenko? Who was Alexander Litvinenko?
(7 months later)
A pre-inquest review over the death of Alexander Litvinenko has taken place. But who was he and why did his death become such a cause celebre? The row over whether to hold an inquest or a public inquiry into the death of Alexander Litvinenko rumbles on. But who was he and why did his death become such a cause celebre?
Before he was poisoned and died in November 2006, few outside Russia had ever heard of Alexander Litvinenko.Before he was poisoned and died in November 2006, few outside Russia had ever heard of Alexander Litvinenko.
A 43-year-old former officer with the Federal Security Service (FSB), Mr Litvinenko had become a useful, if not entirely reliable, source for journalists interested in the machinations of Vladimir Putin's Russia.A 43-year-old former officer with the Federal Security Service (FSB), Mr Litvinenko had become a useful, if not entirely reliable, source for journalists interested in the machinations of Vladimir Putin's Russia.
But it has since emerged the Russian spy was being paid by both the British secret service MI6 and the Spanish secret service.But it has since emerged the Russian spy was being paid by both the British secret service MI6 and the Spanish secret service.
He was allegedly investigating Spanish links to the Russian mafia, and had planned to fly to Spain with the main suspect for his murder, Andrei Lugovoi.He was allegedly investigating Spanish links to the Russian mafia, and had planned to fly to Spain with the main suspect for his murder, Andrei Lugovoi.
Mr Litvinenko's name made its way into infamy after he took tea with Mr Lugovoi and another Russian contact Dmitri Kovtun at a central London hotel on 1 November 2006.Mr Litvinenko's name made its way into infamy after he took tea with Mr Lugovoi and another Russian contact Dmitri Kovtun at a central London hotel on 1 November 2006.
He fell ill soon afterwards and spent the night vomiting.He fell ill soon afterwards and spent the night vomiting.
Three days later he was admitted to Barnet General Hospital in north London, where his condition gradually became a cause for concern.Three days later he was admitted to Barnet General Hospital in north London, where his condition gradually became a cause for concern.
On 11 November he was interviewed by the BBC Russian Service and said he was in "very bad shape" after a "serious poisoning".On 11 November he was interviewed by the BBC Russian Service and said he was in "very bad shape" after a "serious poisoning".
During that same interview, Mr Litvinenko, a critic of the Putin regime, said he had been looking into the assassination of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya.During that same interview, Mr Litvinenko, a critic of the Putin regime, said he had been looking into the assassination of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya.
He said he would hand over documents he had received on 1 November to a Russian newspaper when he recovered.He said he would hand over documents he had received on 1 November to a Russian newspaper when he recovered.
But he never did. On 17 November he was transferred to University College Hospital in London after his condition worsened.But he never did. On 17 November he was transferred to University College Hospital in London after his condition worsened.
He died six days later, with his wife Marina, father Walter, and son Anatoli at his bedside.He died six days later, with his wife Marina, father Walter, and son Anatoli at his bedside.
Born in the city of Voronezh in 1962, Mr Litvinenko joined a military unit of the Soviet Union's interior ministry in 1980 and reportedly joined the KGB eight years later.Born in the city of Voronezh in 1962, Mr Litvinenko joined a military unit of the Soviet Union's interior ministry in 1980 and reportedly joined the KGB eight years later.
He rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel when the KGB became the FSB in the 1990s.He rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel when the KGB became the FSB in the 1990s.
Mr Putin was his ultimate boss at the FSB but they reportedly fell out.Mr Putin was his ultimate boss at the FSB but they reportedly fell out.
After leaving the service Mr Litvinenko wrote a book, Blowing up Russia: Terror from Within, in which he claimed FSB agents had been responsible for the bombing of apartment blocks in Moscow and two other cities in 1999.After leaving the service Mr Litvinenko wrote a book, Blowing up Russia: Terror from Within, in which he claimed FSB agents had been responsible for the bombing of apartment blocks in Moscow and two other cities in 1999.
The bombings were blamed on Chechen separatists and his book claimed they were used as a pretext for the second Russian invasion of Chechnya.The bombings were blamed on Chechen separatists and his book claimed they were used as a pretext for the second Russian invasion of Chechnya.
Mr Litvinenko came to Britain in 2000 and obtained asylum.Mr Litvinenko came to Britain in 2000 and obtained asylum.
After his death, suspicion fell on Mr Lugovoi and Mr Kovtun, the two Russians he had met for tea at the Millennium Hotel.After his death, suspicion fell on Mr Lugovoi and Mr Kovtun, the two Russians he had met for tea at the Millennium Hotel.
A post-mortem examination suggested Mr Litvinenko had died after being poisoned with the radioactive substance polonium-210.A post-mortem examination suggested Mr Litvinenko had died after being poisoned with the radioactive substance polonium-210.
A frantic police investigation led to a number of premises being briefly sealed off while forensic scientists tested for traces of the radioactive material.A frantic police investigation led to a number of premises being briefly sealed off while forensic scientists tested for traces of the radioactive material.
Locations which tested positive included the Millennium Hotel, the Abracadabra lap-dancing club and the Emirates football stadium, where Mr Lugovoi had watched Arsenal play CSKA Moscow.Locations which tested positive included the Millennium Hotel, the Abracadabra lap-dancing club and the Emirates football stadium, where Mr Lugovoi had watched Arsenal play CSKA Moscow.
It also emerged he had met Italian academic Mario Scaramella at the Itsu sushi restaurant in central London, where he is said to have received documents about the death of Mrs Politkovskaya, a long-term critic of the FSB.It also emerged he had met Italian academic Mario Scaramella at the Itsu sushi restaurant in central London, where he is said to have received documents about the death of Mrs Politkovskaya, a long-term critic of the FSB.
Traces were also found on two planes at Heathrow airport, at the British embassy in Moscow and at a flat in Hamburg, Germany, linked to Mr Kovtun.Traces were also found on two planes at Heathrow airport, at the British embassy in Moscow and at a flat in Hamburg, Germany, linked to Mr Kovtun.
Around 700 people had to be tested for radioactive poisoning but none was seriously ill.Around 700 people had to be tested for radioactive poisoning but none was seriously ill.
After a two-month investigation, Scotland Yard detectives handed over a file to the then director of public prosecutions, Sir Ken Macdonald, who announced in May 2007 that he was recommending Mr Lugovoi be charged with murder.After a two-month investigation, Scotland Yard detectives handed over a file to the then director of public prosecutions, Sir Ken Macdonald, who announced in May 2007 that he was recommending Mr Lugovoi be charged with murder.
Mr Lugovoi and Mr Kovtun both denied any responsibility for the death and at a news conference in Moscow Mr Lugovoi repeatedly stressed his innocence and claimed Mr Litvinenko was a British spy who might have been killed by the British security services.Mr Lugovoi and Mr Kovtun both denied any responsibility for the death and at a news conference in Moscow Mr Lugovoi repeatedly stressed his innocence and claimed Mr Litvinenko was a British spy who might have been killed by the British security services.
The office of the prosecutor general in Moscow was quick to point out Mr Lugovoi could not and would not be extradited because the constitution prevented the extradition of Russian citizens. The office of the prosecutor general in Moscow was quick to declare that Mr Lugovoi could not and would not be extradited because the constitution prevented the extradition of Russian citizens.
In July 2007, Anglo-Russian tensions turned into an ugly spat with four Russian and four British diplomats expelled from their respective embassies. In July 2007, British-Russian tensions turned into an ugly spat with four Russian and four British diplomats expelled from their respective embassies.
Britain broke off links with the Russian security services and, although relations have thawed, David Cameron refused to renew links between MI6 and the FSB when he visited Moscow last year. The UK broke off links with the Russian security services and, although relations have thawed, David Cameron refused to renew links between MI6 and the FSB when he visited Moscow in 2011.
After pre-inquest reviews in September and December 2012, the date for the inquest into Mr Litvinenko's death was set at 1 May 2013.After pre-inquest reviews in September and December 2012, the date for the inquest into Mr Litvinenko's death was set at 1 May 2013.
But it was delayed after the coroner in charge of the case, Sir Robert Owen, decided that the inquest would not be able to hear evidence linked to alleged Russian state involvement.
Sir Robert said that without such material any verdict would be "potentially misleading and unfair" and suggested a public inquiry would be preferable as it would allow some evidence to be heard in secret.
But in July 2013, the British government formally rejected the idea.
The Litvinenko family called for a judicial review of the refusal, saying it showed "utter contempt".