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Litvinenko public inquiry ruled out by UK Litvinenko public inquiry blocked by government
(35 minutes later)
The UK will not hold a public inquiry into the death of ex-KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko, the coroner in charge of his inquest has said. The government has refused a request to hold a public inquiry into the death of ex-KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko, the coroner has announced.
Sir Robert Owen had requested an inquiry after ruling the inquest could not hear evidence linked to alleged Russian state involvement.Sir Robert Owen had requested an inquiry after ruling the inquest could not hear evidence linked to alleged Russian state involvement.
Mr Litvinenko was poisoned with radioactive polonium in London in 2006.Mr Litvinenko was poisoned with radioactive polonium in London in 2006.
His wife has said she will boycott the inquest if the government does not set up a public inquiry. His family have called for a judicial review of the government's decision, saying it showed "utter contempt".
The coroner said the inquest would now be further delayed and expressed his sympathy for Mrs Litvinenko.
Sir Robert previously accepted a request from Foreign Secretary William Hague to exclude certain material from the inquest on the grounds its disclosure could be damaging to national security.
But this meant the inquest would be unable to look at whether the Russian state was behind the killing or whether the British state could have done more to protect Mr Litvinenko.
To tackle this, Sir Robert wrote to the justice secretary last month to request a public inquiry instead of an inquest.
The inquiry would allow evidence to be heard in secret, but the request has now been refused.
Ben Emmerson, QC for the Litvinenko family, said: "The government has shown utter contempt for the position of Mrs Litvinenko and her son."
Mr Litvinenko, 43, died after he was poisoned while drinking tea at a London hotel in 2006.
The inquest into Mr Litvinenko's death has already faced major delays because both the UK and Russian governments have been slow to disclose documents.
Police have sought the arrest of two Russian nationals in relation to the death - Andrei Lugovoy and Dmitri Kovtun - but the Russian authorities have refused to hand them over. They deny any involvement.