This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/27/litvinenko-coroner-government-evidence-private
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| UK files on murdered spy Litvinenko must stay secret, rules coroner | UK files on murdered spy Litvinenko must stay secret, rules coroner |
| (30 days later) | |
| Media groups have expressed disappointment after a coroner ruled that secret government files on the murdered Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko would be examined in private. | Media groups have expressed disappointment after a coroner ruled that secret government files on the murdered Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko would be examined in private. |
| The foreign secretary, William Hague, wants to withhold evidence from the inquest into Litvinenko's murder on the grounds that it compromises national security and the UK's international relations. | The foreign secretary, William Hague, wants to withhold evidence from the inquest into Litvinenko's murder on the grounds that it compromises national security and the UK's international relations. |
| The government refuses to say what the evidence is. Lawyers for Litvinenko's widow, Marina, have vigorously opposed Hague's request. | The government refuses to say what the evidence is. Lawyers for Litvinenko's widow, Marina, have vigorously opposed Hague's request. |
| On Tuesday Ben Emmerson QC said Hague wanted to keep the Litvinenko files secret because he was worried they might damage trade relations with Moscow and antagonise Vladimir Putin, the Russian president. He accused Hague and David Cameron of "dancing to the Russian tarantella" and of colluding with the Kremlin in a cover-up. | On Tuesday Ben Emmerson QC said Hague wanted to keep the Litvinenko files secret because he was worried they might damage trade relations with Moscow and antagonise Vladimir Putin, the Russian president. He accused Hague and David Cameron of "dancing to the Russian tarantella" and of colluding with the Kremlin in a cover-up. |
| On Wednesday the coroner, Sir Robert Owen, ruled that he would hold a private ex parte hearing to look at the government's evidence. The public, the media and Mrs Litvinenko's legal team will be excluded from the hearing, which will be held before the full inquest takes place this year. | On Wednesday the coroner, Sir Robert Owen, ruled that he would hold a private ex parte hearing to look at the government's evidence. The public, the media and Mrs Litvinenko's legal team will be excluded from the hearing, which will be held before the full inquest takes place this year. |
| Owen said at the high court he would subject Hague's request for a public interest immunity (PII) certificate to "the most stringent and critical examination". He said he would balance the public interest in non-disclosure – the case made by the government – against the public interest in disclosure. "I intend to conduct this inquest with the greatest degree of openness and transparency," he said. | Owen said at the high court he would subject Hague's request for a public interest immunity (PII) certificate to "the most stringent and critical examination". He said he would balance the public interest in non-disclosure – the case made by the government – against the public interest in disclosure. "I intend to conduct this inquest with the greatest degree of openness and transparency," he said. |
| Details of the number of secret government files, when they were written and what they contain remain a mystery. At a hearing in December it emerged that at the time of his death Litvinenko was working for the British and Spanish secret services. While on MI6's payroll Litvinenko was investigating sensitive links between the Russian mafia in Spain and Putin's inner circle. | Details of the number of secret government files, when they were written and what they contain remain a mystery. At a hearing in December it emerged that at the time of his death Litvinenko was working for the British and Spanish secret services. While on MI6's payroll Litvinenko was investigating sensitive links between the Russian mafia in Spain and Putin's inner circle. |
| Virtually the entire British media has opposed Hague's application, described on Tuesday as "extraordinarily broad". On Wednesday Jan Clements, the lawyer representing the media, including the Guardian, said the media groups were disappointed Owen would not hold an open hearing. However, she said the groups were pleased the coroner would consider whether Hague should give greater detail as to why he wants to keep evidence hidden. | Virtually the entire British media has opposed Hague's application, described on Tuesday as "extraordinarily broad". On Wednesday Jan Clements, the lawyer representing the media, including the Guardian, said the media groups were disappointed Owen would not hold an open hearing. However, she said the groups were pleased the coroner would consider whether Hague should give greater detail as to why he wants to keep evidence hidden. |
| Litvinenko was murdered in November 2006 after meeting two former KGB agents, Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun, in the Pine Bar of London's Millennium Hotel. The two allegedly poisoned him by slipping radioactive polonium-210 into his tea. The Kremlin has refused to extradite Lugovoi and Kovtun. Both deny murder. On Tuesday Emmerson said Hague had clear evidence showing Litvinenko's murder was a Russian state plot. | Litvinenko was murdered in November 2006 after meeting two former KGB agents, Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun, in the Pine Bar of London's Millennium Hotel. The two allegedly poisoned him by slipping radioactive polonium-210 into his tea. The Kremlin has refused to extradite Lugovoi and Kovtun. Both deny murder. On Tuesday Emmerson said Hague had clear evidence showing Litvinenko's murder was a Russian state plot. |
| Mrs Litvinenko said the ruling was "not ideal", adding: "We would have liked to have an open hearing." But she stressed: "I still trust Owen. I must trust Owen. I have no other option. If he sees evidence that the Russian state is behind this, he will use it." | Mrs Litvinenko said the ruling was "not ideal", adding: "We would have liked to have an open hearing." But she stressed: "I still trust Owen. I must trust Owen. I have no other option. If he sees evidence that the Russian state is behind this, he will use it." |
| Litvinenko's close friend Alex Goldfarb condemned the government's attempt to suppress evidence: "We believe this to be wrong and to be dictated by reasons that have nothing to do with justice and everything to do with trade, politics and international relations," he said. "This isn't an economic crime or corruption. It's murder and a terrorist act. We won't stop until those killers, whom we believe are sitting in the Kremlin, are exposed as well as those who are trying to appease them." | Litvinenko's close friend Alex Goldfarb condemned the government's attempt to suppress evidence: "We believe this to be wrong and to be dictated by reasons that have nothing to do with justice and everything to do with trade, politics and international relations," he said. "This isn't an economic crime or corruption. It's murder and a terrorist act. We won't stop until those killers, whom we believe are sitting in the Kremlin, are exposed as well as those who are trying to appease them." |
| After reviewing the evidence the coroner can accept Hague's submission or overrule the foreign secretary and include some or all of the secret evidence in the inquest. Media groups are likely to press for more detail about the Litvinenko files, without revealing their contents. | After reviewing the evidence the coroner can accept Hague's submission or overrule the foreign secretary and include some or all of the secret evidence in the inquest. Media groups are likely to press for more detail about the Litvinenko files, without revealing their contents. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |