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Litvinenko Poisoning Inquiry Nears End as Russian Refuses to Testify Litvinenko Poisoning Inquiry Nears End as Russian Refuses to Testify
(about 2 hours later)
LONDON — A high-profile inquiry into the death by poisoning of a former K.G.B. officer who had sought asylum in Britain entered its final, public stages on Tuesday overshadowed by the last-minute refusal of a key Russian suspect to testify. LONDON — A high-profile inquiry into the death by poisoning of a former K.G.B. officer who had sought asylum in Britain entered its final, public stages on Tuesday overshadowed by acrimony after the last-minute refusal of a key Russian suspect to testify.
Judge Robert Owen, the senior judicial figure overseeing the inquiry in London, had given the suspect, Dmitri V. Kovtun, until Tuesday morning to begin giving evidence by video link from Moscow, a day later than his testimony was initially set to begin.Judge Robert Owen, the senior judicial figure overseeing the inquiry in London, had given the suspect, Dmitri V. Kovtun, until Tuesday morning to begin giving evidence by video link from Moscow, a day later than his testimony was initially set to begin.
The British authorities say they want to question Mr. Kovtun, a former Soviet Army officer, and an associate, Andrei K. Lugovoi, a onetime K.G.B. bodyguard, over allegations that they imported polonium 210, a rare and highly toxic radioactive isotope, to poison the former K.G.B. officer, Alexander V. Litvinenko.The British authorities say they want to question Mr. Kovtun, a former Soviet Army officer, and an associate, Andrei K. Lugovoi, a onetime K.G.B. bodyguard, over allegations that they imported polonium 210, a rare and highly toxic radioactive isotope, to poison the former K.G.B. officer, Alexander V. Litvinenko.
Mr. Litvinenko died in November 2006, three weeks after drinking tea at a meeting with Mr. Kovtun and Mr. Lugovoi at an upscale hotel in central London. Mr. Kovtun and Mr. Lugovoi, who both deny the allegations, would be arrested if they traveled to England, but, in March, Mr. Kovtun signaled his readiness to testify by video link.Mr. Litvinenko died in November 2006, three weeks after drinking tea at a meeting with Mr. Kovtun and Mr. Lugovoi at an upscale hotel in central London. Mr. Kovtun and Mr. Lugovoi, who both deny the allegations, would be arrested if they traveled to England, but, in March, Mr. Kovtun signaled his readiness to testify by video link.
Late last week, however, Mr. Kovtun began to express reluctance to testify unless Russian investigators released him from a confidentiality agreement in connection with a separate inquiry in Moscow.Late last week, however, Mr. Kovtun began to express reluctance to testify unless Russian investigators released him from a confidentiality agreement in connection with a separate inquiry in Moscow.
Shortly before the 9 a.m. deadline for him to testify on Tuesday, Mr. Kovtun informed Judge Owen that he would not appear in the video link. British officials have said that they fear Mr. Kovtun’s actions are part of a maneuver to discredit the inquiry. His testimony would have been the first and only oral evidence from Moscow, either by suspects or by Russian officials.Shortly before the 9 a.m. deadline for him to testify on Tuesday, Mr. Kovtun informed Judge Owen that he would not appear in the video link. British officials have said that they fear Mr. Kovtun’s actions are part of a maneuver to discredit the inquiry. His testimony would have been the first and only oral evidence from Moscow, either by suspects or by Russian officials.
“This unhappy sequence of events drives me to the conclusion either that Mr. Kovtun never in truth intended to give evidence and that this has been a charade,” Judge Owen said on Tuesday, or “alternatively, if he has at some stage been genuine in his expressed intention to give evidence, obstacles have been put in the way of his doing so. In either case I will not have the progress of the inquiry further disrupted.”“This unhappy sequence of events drives me to the conclusion either that Mr. Kovtun never in truth intended to give evidence and that this has been a charade,” Judge Owen said on Tuesday, or “alternatively, if he has at some stage been genuine in his expressed intention to give evidence, obstacles have been put in the way of his doing so. In either case I will not have the progress of the inquiry further disrupted.”
Mr. Kovtun’s failure to appear cleared the way for lawyers to offer their final statements before Judge Owen begins preparing a report expected by the end of the year.Mr. Kovtun’s failure to appear cleared the way for lawyers to offer their final statements before Judge Owen begins preparing a report expected by the end of the year.
Mr. Litvinenko died a few weeks after he and his family were granted British citizenship. He fled Moscow in 2000 after falling out with President Vladimir V. Putin. In a statement from his deathbed, Mr. Litvinenko accused Mr. Putin of being responsible for his poisoning. Mr. Putin has dismissed the allegation.Mr. Litvinenko died a few weeks after he and his family were granted British citizenship. He fled Moscow in 2000 after falling out with President Vladimir V. Putin. In a statement from his deathbed, Mr. Litvinenko accused Mr. Putin of being responsible for his poisoning. Mr. Putin has dismissed the allegation.