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Litvinenko inquiry: Key witness 'will not testify' Litvinenko inquiry: Key suspect will not testify
(35 minutes later)
A key witness in an inquiry in London into the death of the former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko has told the BBC he will not give evidence. A key suspect in an inquiry in London into the death of the former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko has told the BBC he will not give evidence.
Dmitry Kovtun is one of two men the British authorities believe poisoned Mr Litvinenko with radioactive polonium at a London hotel in 2006. Dmitry Kovtun is one of two men British authorities believe poisoned Mr Litvinenko with radioactive polonium at a London hotel in 2006.
He said he had been unable to get permission from Russian authorities to give evidence.He said he had been unable to get permission from Russian authorities to give evidence.
Mr Kovtun, who denies involvement, was due to appear by videolink from Moscow.Mr Kovtun, who denies involvement, was due to appear by videolink from Moscow.
But he said he needed permission because testifying would risk violating an obligation of confidentiality to a Russian investigation into Mr Litvinenko's death.But he said he needed permission because testifying would risk violating an obligation of confidentiality to a Russian investigation into Mr Litvinenko's death.
Speaking to the BBC in Moscow, Mr Kovtun said he had been unable to contact the relevant Russian investigator. Russian probe
"Even if the investigator, who I have not been able to reach, gave me permission he would still have to make a decision on how much information I could disclose," Mr Kovtun said. It was during a meeting with Mr Kovtun and his co-accused Andrei Lugovoi that Mr Litvinenko drank tea containing a fatal dose of the radioactive substance polonium-210.
The 43-year-old had been an officer with the Federal Security Service - the successor to the KGB - but fled to Britain where he became a UK citizen and fierce critic of the Kremlin.
Speaking to the BBC in Moscow, former Soviet army officer Mr Kovtun said he had been unable to contact the relevant Russian investigator.
"Even if the investigator, who I have not been able to reach, gave me permission he would still have to make a decision on how much information I could disclose," he added.
Mr Kovtun dismissed the suggestion he was never serious about giving evidence.Mr Kovtun dismissed the suggestion he was never serious about giving evidence.
If British authorities contact investigators in Moscow on his behalf, he said they could still get permission for him to testify at a later date.If British authorities contact investigators in Moscow on his behalf, he said they could still get permission for him to testify at a later date.
But the BBC's Moscow correspondent Sarah Rainsford said that seems unlikely as the inquiry has already been delayed from the spring - specifically to allow Mr Kovtun to take part.But the BBC's Moscow correspondent Sarah Rainsford said that seems unlikely as the inquiry has already been delayed from the spring - specifically to allow Mr Kovtun to take part.
'Too much time''Too much time'
On Friday, the Royal Courts of Justice in London heard Mr Kovtun had emailed to say he felt bound by obligations of confidentiality.On Friday, the Royal Courts of Justice in London heard Mr Kovtun had emailed to say he felt bound by obligations of confidentiality.
At the time, Robin Tam QC, counsel to the inquiry, said: "There's a very strong argument for saying they've had far too much time already."At the time, Robin Tam QC, counsel to the inquiry, said: "There's a very strong argument for saying they've had far too much time already."
And Richard Horwell QC, for the Metropolitan Police, said Mr Kovtun's actions did not come as "any surprise".And Richard Horwell QC, for the Metropolitan Police, said Mr Kovtun's actions did not come as "any surprise".
"It appears Kovtun's request to give evidence was nothing more than an attempt to become a core participant and obtain as much information about these proceedings as he could," he said."It appears Kovtun's request to give evidence was nothing more than an attempt to become a core participant and obtain as much information about these proceedings as he could," he said.
A lawyer for Mr Litvinenko's widow claimed Mr Kovtun's actions implied he was guilty of her husband's murder, along with his co-accused Andrei Lugovoi. Mr Kovtun denied that claim on Monday.
Mr Lugovoi also denies involvement. A lawyer for Mr Litvinenko's widow claimed Mr Kovtun's actions implied he was guilty of her husband's murder, along with Mr Lugovoi, who also denies involvement.
The Litvinenko caseThe Litvinenko case
Who was Alexander Litvinenko?Who was Alexander Litvinenko?