A long-awaited inquest into the poisoning death of former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko should consider whether Russian authorities were involved, the senior British judge who will oversee it said Thursday. But the U.K. government will not let lawyers for the victim’s family and the suspects see a report on purported links between Litvinenko and British intelligence.
Litvinenko’s family believes the Kremlin was behind his death from radioactive poisoning in London in November 2006. The former security service officer, a critic of the Kremlin, died after drinking tea laced with the rare radioactive isotope polonium-210 at a London hotel.
On his deathbed, he accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of being behind his poisoning.
Ben Emmerson, a lawyer for Litvinenko’s widow, Marina, said at a court hearing that it was vital that the inquest investigate “the criminal role of the Russian state.”
Emmerson said that if official Russian involvement was proved, it would constitute “an act of state-sponsored nuclear terrorism on the streets of London.”
Judge Robert Owen, who will lead the inquest, said its scope would be decided at a later hearing, but he indicated he was inclined to agree that it should look at Russia’s purported role.
Owen said it was “to be regretted” that no inquest has been held in the nearly six years since Litvinenko died. Owen said he would open his inquest as early in 2013 as possible.
Front Section, Pages 5 on 09/21/2012