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Alexander Litvinenko death: UK announces public inquiry Alexander Litvinenko death: UK announces public inquiry
(35 minutes later)
A public inquiry will be held into the death of the Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko, the UK Home Secretary Theresa May has announced.A public inquiry will be held into the death of the Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko, the UK Home Secretary Theresa May has announced.
Mr Litvinenko, a former KGB officer, died in 2006 in a London hospital after he was poisoned with radioactive polonium.Mr Litvinenko, a former KGB officer, died in 2006 in a London hospital after he was poisoned with radioactive polonium.
The investigation will examine whether the Russian state was behind his death.The investigation will examine whether the Russian state was behind his death.
Mr Litvinenko's widow, Marina, said she was "relieved and delighted", saying the "truth will win out in the end".Mr Litvinenko's widow, Marina, said she was "relieved and delighted", saying the "truth will win out in the end".
Announcing the inquiry - which will be chaired by Sir Robert Owen, a senior judge and the coroner overseeing Mr Litvinenko's inquest - Theresa May said she hoped it would be of "some comfort" to Mrs Litvinenko. Announcing the inquiry - which will be chaired by senior judge Sir Robert Owen - Theresa May said she hoped it would be of "some comfort" to Mrs Litvinenko.
The former Russian spy, 43, died after he was poisoned with radioactive polonium while drinking tea with two Russian men, one a former KGB officer, at a London hotel.The former Russian spy, 43, died after he was poisoned with radioactive polonium while drinking tea with two Russian men, one a former KGB officer, at a London hotel.
His family believe he was working for MI6 at the time of his death and was killed on the orders of the Kremlin.His family believe he was working for MI6 at the time of his death and was killed on the orders of the Kremlin.
'Truth will win out'
Speaking a press conference, Mrs Litvinenko - who launched a legal challenge against the government's decision not to hold a public inquiry - said she had pursued the case "for justice", adding: "I did this for truth."
"I would like to be able to show people that you are able to get justice, in any difficult situation," she added.
In an earlier statement, she said: "No matter how strong and powerful you are, truth will win out in the end and you will be held accountable for your crimes."
The inquiry will seek to establish how Mr Litvinenko died and where the responsibility for his death lies. It will have powers to make recommendations.
It comes after Sir Robert, who was also the coroner overseeing Mr Litvinenko's inquest, called for a public inquiry to be set up in May 2013.
In a written ruling, he said an inquest could not take sensitive evidence on grounds of national security. As a result any verdict would be "potentially misleading and unfair", he said.
Downing Street said the inquiry would hold most of its hearings in public, although a government spokesman said potentially sensitive material could "if absolutely necessary" be heard in closed session.
'Appalling crime''Appalling crime'
In a statement, Mrs Litvinenko said: "No matter how strong and powerful you are, truth will win out in the end and you will be held accountable for your crimes. A spokesman said Sir Robert would have the jurisdiction to demand the production of both witnesses - including security agents - and documents from the security and intelligence services.
"I look forward to the day when the truth behind my husband's murder is revealed for the whole world to see," she added. However, the inquiry will have no such powers in relation to evidence from Russia, he added.
A government spokesman said his death was "an appalling crime and we want to see those responsible prosecuted through the courts". The inquiry is due to begin on 31 July and is expected to conclude by the end of 2015.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Whitehall sources had told him the timing of the announcement - coming at the same time as the fallout from the Malaysian Airways crash in Ukraine - had been "a coincidence". A government spokesman said Mr Litvinenko's death was "an appalling crime and we want to see those responsible prosecuted through the courts".
Western leaders have accused Russia of arming rebels in eastern Ukraine, who they believe shot down flight MH17 with a ground-to-air missile.
Downing Street has been pushing for tougher sanctions on Russia.
Analysis from BBC security correspondent Gordon CoreraAnalysis from BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera
Until now, the government has steadfastly resisted holding a public inquiry.Until now, the government has steadfastly resisted holding a public inquiry.
That was because there are layers of secrets surrounding the death of Alexander Litvinenko. This is thought to include secret intelligence that may relate to whether the Russian state was responsible for his murder.That was because there are layers of secrets surrounding the death of Alexander Litvinenko. This is thought to include secret intelligence that may relate to whether the Russian state was responsible for his murder.
There are also secrets about Mr Litvinenko's own relationship with MI6. The government demanded all these secrets be kept out of an inquest.There are also secrets about Mr Litvinenko's own relationship with MI6. The government demanded all these secrets be kept out of an inquest.
But the former Russian security officer's widow has fought a long legal battle to get to the truth.But the former Russian security officer's widow has fought a long legal battle to get to the truth.
A public inquiry will now look at where responsibility lies for the death although it does not look as if it will look at whether his relationship with MI6 means that more should be done to have protected him.A public inquiry will now look at where responsibility lies for the death although it does not look as if it will look at whether his relationship with MI6 means that more should be done to have protected him.
Lawyers for Mrs Litvinenko had claimed that the issue of state responsibility was being closed down precisely to try to improve relations with Russia.Lawyers for Mrs Litvinenko had claimed that the issue of state responsibility was being closed down precisely to try to improve relations with Russia.
If so, then changing times may explain a government's change of heart. And so we may get one step closer to finding out who was behind a radioactive murder on the streets of London.If so, then changing times may explain a government's change of heart. And so we may get one step closer to finding out who was behind a radioactive murder on the streets of London.
The government had previously resisted calls for a public inquiry, saying it would first "wait and see" what a judge-led inquest found.The government had previously resisted calls for a public inquiry, saying it would first "wait and see" what a judge-led inquest found.
However, in 2013 a coroner ruled that a public inquiry would be best placed to establish how Mr Litvinenko died. However, it came under pressure when Sir Robert ruled that a public inquiry would be best placed to establish how Mr Litvinenko died.
As the law stands, inquests cannot consider some material relating to national security because of rules preventing its public disclosure.As the law stands, inquests cannot consider some material relating to national security because of rules preventing its public disclosure.
Unlike an inquest, a public inquiry would be able to consider sensitive evidence in a closed hearing - a hearing that is not held in public.Unlike an inquest, a public inquiry would be able to consider sensitive evidence in a closed hearing - a hearing that is not held in public.
Ministers still refused to launch an inquiry, which prompted a legal challenge by Mr Litvinenko's widow, Marina. Ministers still refused to launch an inquiry, which prompted a legal challenge by Mr Litvinenko's widow.
She said only a public inquiry would uncover the Russian state's alleged role in her husband's 2006 death from radiation poisoning.
In February, the High Court said the Home Office had been wrong to rule out an inquiry before the outcome of an inquest.In February, the High Court said the Home Office had been wrong to rule out an inquiry before the outcome of an inquest.
The Litvinenko caseThe Litvinenko case
Who was Alexander Litvinenko?Who was Alexander Litvinenko?
Sir Richard Ottaway, chairman of the foreign affairs select committee, said the timing of the announcement was "a bit quirky" given the international situation following the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash in Ukraine. BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Whitehall sources had told him the timing of the announcement - coming at the same time as the fallout from the Malaysian Airways crash in Ukraine - had been "a coincidence".
But the Conservative MP said launching an inquiry was "absolutely the right thing to do". Western leaders have accused Russia of arming rebels in eastern Ukraine, who they believe shot down flight MH17 with a ground-to-air missile, while Downing Street has been pushing for tougher sanctions on Russia.