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Litvinenko inquest: Government makes secrecy request | Litvinenko inquest: Government makes secrecy request |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A coroner is to hear an application by the government to keep some information secret at the forthcoming inquest into the death of Alexander Litvinenko. | A coroner is to hear an application by the government to keep some information secret at the forthcoming inquest into the death of Alexander Litvinenko. |
The former Russian security service officer was poisoned by radioactive polonium in London in 2006. | The former Russian security service officer was poisoned by radioactive polonium in London in 2006. |
Tuesday's hearing will consider an application for a broad Public Interest Immunity (PII) certificate. | Tuesday's hearing will consider an application for a broad Public Interest Immunity (PII) certificate. |
It is expected to be opposed by lawyers for Mr Litvinenko's widow as well as media organisations, including the BBC. | It is expected to be opposed by lawyers for Mr Litvinenko's widow as well as media organisations, including the BBC. |
The PII certificate would exclude some information from the inquest when it opens later this year. | The PII certificate would exclude some information from the inquest when it opens later this year. |
They are usually issued on the grounds of national security. | They are usually issued on the grounds of national security. |
At an earlier pre-inquest hearing the lawyer for Mr Litvinenko's widow said the Russian had been a paid agent of MI6 and argued the inquest should examine the secret service's relationship with him. | At an earlier pre-inquest hearing the lawyer for Mr Litvinenko's widow said the Russian had been a paid agent of MI6 and argued the inquest should examine the secret service's relationship with him. |
Sir Robert Owen, a judge acting as the coroner, has said he would examine what was known of threats to Mr Litvinenko's life and also whether the Russian state was responsible for his death. | Sir Robert Owen, a judge acting as the coroner, has said he would examine what was known of threats to Mr Litvinenko's life and also whether the Russian state was responsible for his death. |
The last pre-inquest hearing contained a major revelation - namely that Alexander Litvinenko had been a paid agent of MI6. | |
It raised the question over whether this work was linked to his death. | |
That has pushed Litvinenko's relationship with British intelligence much higher up the agenda. | |
But how much will we learn about that relationship? | |
That's the subject of Tuesday's hearing in which the government is applying for a broad Public Interest Immunity Certificate which would mean that information considered sensitive could be excluded. | |
He has also agreed that a group representing Russian state prosecutors can be accepted as a party to the inquest process. | He has also agreed that a group representing Russian state prosecutors can be accepted as a party to the inquest process. |
A legal review, ahead of the inquest, has heard that Mr Litvinenko was working alongside Spanish spies for MI6 in the days before his death. | A legal review, ahead of the inquest, has heard that Mr Litvinenko was working alongside Spanish spies for MI6 in the days before his death. |
British government documents that implied Russia was behind the 43-year old's murder were also revealed. | British government documents that implied Russia was behind the 43-year old's murder were also revealed. |
Moscow has previously denied any involvement in Mr Litvinenko's death. | Moscow has previously denied any involvement in Mr Litvinenko's death. |
The inquest is due to begin on 1 May. | The inquest is due to begin on 1 May. |
Mr Litvinenko died in November 2006 after ingesting the polonium-210 isotope, allegedly during a meeting at the Millennium Hotel in central London with ex-KGB contacts Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun. | Mr Litvinenko died in November 2006 after ingesting the polonium-210 isotope, allegedly during a meeting at the Millennium Hotel in central London with ex-KGB contacts Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun. |
Russia has refused to extradite main suspect Mr Lugovoi to the UK for questioning. | Russia has refused to extradite main suspect Mr Lugovoi to the UK for questioning. |
Neil Garnham, representing the Home Office, told the review he could "neither confirm nor deny" whether Mr Litvinenko was employed by British intelligence. | Neil Garnham, representing the Home Office, told the review he could "neither confirm nor deny" whether Mr Litvinenko was employed by British intelligence. |
The Kremlin has indicated it would like to become an interested party in the inquest, which would allow representatives of the Russian state to cross-examine witnesses and examine evidence. | The Kremlin has indicated it would like to become an interested party in the inquest, which would allow representatives of the Russian state to cross-examine witnesses and examine evidence. |