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| Alexander Litvinenko inquest postponed until October | Alexander Litvinenko inquest postponed until October |
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| The inquest into the death of Alexander Litvinenko is to be held on 2 October this year, it has been announced amid claims that government incompetence and "politically motivated" Russian manoeuvring have dragged out proceedings. | The inquest into the death of Alexander Litvinenko is to be held on 2 October this year, it has been announced amid claims that government incompetence and "politically motivated" Russian manoeuvring have dragged out proceedings. |
| The coroner Sir Robert Owen had originally suggested that the inquest into the death of the Russian spy could start in May. But at a hearing in the high court on Thursday he said he was "with great reluctance" delaying the date to allow time for more evidence to be gathered. | The coroner Sir Robert Owen had originally suggested that the inquest into the death of the Russian spy could start in May. But at a hearing in the high court on Thursday he said he was "with great reluctance" delaying the date to allow time for more evidence to be gathered. |
| Litvinenko, a former officer with Russia's FSB spy agency, was murdered in 2006 after drinking a cup of tea laced with radioactive polonium. The Kremlin has refused to extradite the two main suspects accused of poisoning him, the former KGB agents Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun. On Tuesday Lugovoi announced he would no longer take part in the inquest, accusing it of "bias". | Litvinenko, a former officer with Russia's FSB spy agency, was murdered in 2006 after drinking a cup of tea laced with radioactive polonium. The Kremlin has refused to extradite the two main suspects accused of poisoning him, the former KGB agents Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun. On Tuesday Lugovoi announced he would no longer take part in the inquest, accusing it of "bias". |
| On Thursday Owen said he had the "greatest sympathy" with Litvinenko's widow, Marina, who had already waited six years to discover the truth surrounding her husband's murky death. He said: "I recognise she has a right to prompt resolution in this matter and a compelling human need to understand the death of her husband." But he added: "The thoroughness of this investigation must not be compromised." He promised her the "fullest investigation". | On Thursday Owen said he had the "greatest sympathy" with Litvinenko's widow, Marina, who had already waited six years to discover the truth surrounding her husband's murky death. He said: "I recognise she has a right to prompt resolution in this matter and a compelling human need to understand the death of her husband." But he added: "The thoroughness of this investigation must not be compromised." He promised her the "fullest investigation". |
| Speaking outside the Royal Courts of Justice, Mrs Litvinenko said she continued to put her faith in British justice. | Speaking outside the Royal Courts of Justice, Mrs Litvinenko said she continued to put her faith in British justice. |
| "It's not easy, but I do understand," she said. "I still have faith. I have an extraordinary team. I appreciate the job they do for me." | "It's not easy, but I do understand," she said. "I still have faith. I have an extraordinary team. I appreciate the job they do for me." |
| This latest delay can be partly explained by the case's complexity. The full inquest is likely to last up to three months. It will examine forensic evidence, witness statements and CCTV footage gathered by Scotland Yard. Experts from the UK's nuclear agency, the Atomic Weapons Establishment, will also testify. Earlier this year Russia's investigative committee joined other official parties to the inquest, who include Mrs Litvinenko and her son Anatoly, the Home Office, the Metropolitan police, MI6 and the oligarch Boris Berezovsky. | This latest delay can be partly explained by the case's complexity. The full inquest is likely to last up to three months. It will examine forensic evidence, witness statements and CCTV footage gathered by Scotland Yard. Experts from the UK's nuclear agency, the Atomic Weapons Establishment, will also testify. Earlier this year Russia's investigative committee joined other official parties to the inquest, who include Mrs Litvinenko and her son Anatoly, the Home Office, the Metropolitan police, MI6 and the oligarch Boris Berezovsky. |
| But Thursday's pre-hearing was told that government bungling had held the case up. Henrietta Hill, acting for Mrs Litvinenko, said unnamed government departments were asked in January 2012 to dig up files relevant to the Litvinenko affair. They only got round to searching 10 months later, she said – "a grave disappointment", in her words. | But Thursday's pre-hearing was told that government bungling had held the case up. Henrietta Hill, acting for Mrs Litvinenko, said unnamed government departments were asked in January 2012 to dig up files relevant to the Litvinenko affair. They only got round to searching 10 months later, she said – "a grave disappointment", in her words. |
| She also queried whether Russia's investigative committee in Moscow was interested in getting to the bottom of the case. The committee says it has 60 volumes of documents from its own investigation into Litvinenko's killing. But it has categorically ruled out Lugovoi and Kovtun's guilt and describes them in official papers as "victims". Hill told the hearing the Russian committee acted under orders from President Vladimir Putin's office and was neither independent nor impartial. | She also queried whether Russia's investigative committee in Moscow was interested in getting to the bottom of the case. The committee says it has 60 volumes of documents from its own investigation into Litvinenko's killing. But it has categorically ruled out Lugovoi and Kovtun's guilt and describes them in official papers as "victims". Hill told the hearing the Russian committee acted under orders from President Vladimir Putin's office and was neither independent nor impartial. |
| "It's difficult to imagine a body less likely to assist the coroner in finding the truth," she said drily, suggesting the committee was engaged in a "politically motivated" delaying tactic. | "It's difficult to imagine a body less likely to assist the coroner in finding the truth," she said drily, suggesting the committee was engaged in a "politically motivated" delaying tactic. |
| Last month William Hague applied to keep secret the government's intelligence files on Litvinenko, who at the time of his death was working for both the British and Spanish security services and investigating links between the Russian mafia and senior Kremlin figures. The coroner is currently examining the files in closed court hearings. On Thursday he said he would rule on the foreign secretary's request "in the next two weeks". | Last month William Hague applied to keep secret the government's intelligence files on Litvinenko, who at the time of his death was working for both the British and Spanish security services and investigating links between the Russian mafia and senior Kremlin figures. The coroner is currently examining the files in closed court hearings. On Thursday he said he would rule on the foreign secretary's request "in the next two weeks". |
| Hague's vaguely worded application for a public interest immunity certificate has attracted widespread criticism, not least because Litvinenko's role as an MI6 informant is already known. David Clark, chair of the Russian Foundation, said it was possible Hague was trying to avoid "turbulence with the Russians" following years of bitter rows. He added, however: "You should never underestimate the determination of the British state to keep secret what is no longer secret." | Hague's vaguely worded application for a public interest immunity certificate has attracted widespread criticism, not least because Litvinenko's role as an MI6 informant is already known. David Clark, chair of the Russian Foundation, said it was possible Hague was trying to avoid "turbulence with the Russians" following years of bitter rows. He added, however: "You should never underestimate the determination of the British state to keep secret what is no longer secret." |
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