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Litvinenko inquest: Government trying to exclude MI6 details Litvinenko inquest: UK, Russia 'conspiring for trade'
(about 9 hours later)
Foreign Secretary William Hague is trying to exclude details of Alexander Litvinenko's links to MI6, a pre-inquest legal review has been told. Britain and Russia are conspiring to shut down the inquest into the death of Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko to preserve trade interests, a lawyer for his widow has said.
Mr Hague had identified a "risk of serious harm to the public" if certain material was disclosed, it heard. Foreign Secretary William Hague wants to exclude sensitive details relating to the former KGB agent's ties to MI6, a pre-inquest review was told.
The government is applying to keep some information secret at the forthcoming inquest into the Russian's death. But counsel for Marina Litvinenko said claims they posed a serious risk of harm to the public were wrong.
Mr Litvinenko, an ex-Russian security service officer, was poisoned by radioactive polonium in London in 2006. Mr Litvinenko died in London in 2006.
The pre-inquest review, presided over by Sir Robert Owen, a judge sitting as coroner, is looking into the scope of the inquest into Mr Litvinenko's death. The inquest is due to begin on 1 May. The 43-year-old was poisoned with polonium-210 while drinking tea, allegedly at a meeting with two Russians - former KGB contacts Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun - at the Millennium Hotel in London's Grosvenor Square.
The government's applications for a broad public interest immunity certificate (PII) would exclude some information from the inquest. They are usually issued on the grounds of national security. Ben Emmerson QC, representing Marina Litvinenko, said the Foreign Secretary's grounds for signing a public interest immunity (PII) certificate to prevent certain details relating to the case from being placed in open court for security reasons should be treated with the "greatest degree of scepticism".
Its application is being opposed by lawyers for Mr Litvinenko's widow, Marina, as well as media organisations, including the BBC.
Mrs Litvinenko's barrister said the government's secret files were "delaying this inquest".
Ben Emmerson QC said it was "probable" Mr Litvinenko's death had involved the Russian state.
He also told the coroner he should not allow the process to be "bogged down" by the "government's attempt to keep a lid on the truth".
"We know nothing about why these applications are being made and we are dancing in the dark," he said, in reference to the PII application.
He suggested the British and Russian governments were conspiring to have the inquest shut down to preserve crucial trade deals.
"We cannot allow Her Majesty's Government, by misusing the PII system, to use this inquest to dance to the Russian tarantella," he added.
Spanish spies
At an earlier pre-inquest hearing, Mr Emmerson 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 has said he will 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.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.It raised the question over whether this work was linked to his death.
That has pushed Mr Litvinenko's relationship with British intelligence much higher up the agenda.That has pushed Mr Litvinenko's relationship with British intelligence much higher up the agenda.
But how much will we learn about that relationship?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 that would mean that information considered sensitive could be excluded.That's the subject of Tuesday's hearing in which the government is applying for a broad public interest immunity certificate that would mean that information considered sensitive could be excluded.
Attempts to withhold evidence pointed towards a conspiracy at the highest levels of government, he said.
Almost no details of what areas the government wanted covered by the certificate had been disclosed, and if material suggesting the Russian state was behind the killing was withheld it would defeat the purpose of the inquest.
"The British government, like the Russian government, is conspiring to get this inquest closed down in exchange for substantial trade interests which we know (Prime Minister David) Cameron is pursuing," he said.
"We know nothing about why these applications are being made and we are dancing in the dark."
He also said the process was delaying the inquest. It was due to formally open on May 1, more than six years after Mr Litvinenko died.
The pre-inquest review, presided over by Sir Robert Owen, a judge sitting as coroner, is looking into the scope of the inquest into his death.
The PII application is being opposed by lawyers for Mr Litvinenko's widow, Marina, as well as media organisations, including the BBC.
Mr Emmerson said it was "probable" Mr Litvinenko's death had involved the Russian state.
He also told the coroner he should not allow the process to be "bogged down" by the "government's attempt to keep a lid on the truth".
Spanish spies
At an earlier pre-inquest hearing, Mr Emmerson 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 has said he will examine what was known of threats to Mr Litvinenko's life and also whether the Russian state was responsible for his death.
He has also agreed that a group representing Russian state prosecutors can be accepted as a party to the inquest process, which would allow it to cross-examine witnesses and examine evidence.He has also agreed that a group representing Russian state prosecutors can be accepted as a party to the inquest process, which would allow it to cross-examine witnesses and examine evidence.
And he raised concerns at Tuesday's hearing that the start date for the inquest may be missed "due to the complexity of the investigation which necessarily precedes the hearings".And he raised concerns at Tuesday's hearing that the start date for the inquest may be missed "due to the complexity of the investigation which necessarily precedes the hearings".
The pre-inquest legal review has previously heard that Mr Litvinenko was working alongside Spanish spies for MI6 in the days before his death.The pre-inquest legal review has previously 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 death were also revealed. Moscow has denied any involvement.British government documents that implied Russia was behind the 43-year old's death were also revealed. Moscow has denied any involvement.
Mr Litvinenko died 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. He has also denied any involvement.
Russia has refused to extradite main suspect Mr Lugovoi to the UK for questioning. He has also denied any involvement.
Neil Garnham, representing the Home Office, has told the review he could "neither confirm nor deny" whether Mr Litvinenko had been employed by British intelligence.Neil Garnham, representing the Home Office, has told the review he could "neither confirm nor deny" whether Mr Litvinenko had been employed by British intelligence.
Proceedings were adjourned until Wednesday when Sir Robert is expected to announce whether the government should be required to shed light on the nature of the evidence it aims to conceal.Proceedings were adjourned until Wednesday when Sir Robert is expected to announce whether the government should be required to shed light on the nature of the evidence it aims to conceal.