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Alexander Litvinenko death: UK announces public inquiry Alexander Litvinenko death: UK announces public inquiry
(34 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 senior judge Sir Robert Owen - 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 - Mrs 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 believes he was working for MI6 at the time of his death and was killed on the orders of the Kremlin.
'Truth will win out' 'For truth'
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." Speaking at a press conference, Mrs Litvinenko - who had legally challenged the government's earlier 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."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."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. The inquiry will seek to establish how Mr Litvinenko died and where the responsibility for his death lies. It will also 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. The government had previously resisted calls for a public inquiry, saying it would first "wait and see" what a judge-led inquest found.
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. However, Sir Robert - who was the coroner overseeing Mr Litvinenko's inquest last year and will now chair the inquiry - called for a public inquiry to be set up.
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. In a written ruling, he said an inquest could not take sensitive evidence due to national security fears. As a result any verdict would be "potentially misleading and unfair", he said.
'Appalling crime' As the law stands, inquests cannot consider some material relating to national security because of rules preventing its public disclosure.
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. The inquiry will be able to be mostly held in public but have closed sessions to consider sensitive evidence.
However, the inquiry will have no such powers in relation to evidence from Russia, he added. In February - following a legal challenge by Mrs Litvinenko - the High Court said the Home Office had been wrong to rule out an inquiry before the outcome of an inquest.
The inquiry is due to begin on 31 July and is expected to conclude by the end of 2015.
A government spokesman said Mr Litvinenko's death was "an appalling crime and we want to see those responsible prosecuted through the courts".
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. 'Appalling crime'
However, it came under pressure when Sir Robert ruled that a public inquiry would be best placed to establish how Mr Litvinenko died. A Downing Street 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.
As the law stands, inquests cannot consider some material relating to national security because of rules preventing its public disclosure. However, the inquiry will have no such powers in relation to evidence from Russia, he added.
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. The inquiry is due to begin on 31 July and is expected to conclude by the end of 2015.
Ministers still refused to launch an inquiry, which prompted a legal challenge by Mr Litvinenko's widow. A government spokesman said Mr Litvinenko's death was "an appalling crime and we want to see those responsible prosecuted through the courts".
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?
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". 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 Malaysia Airlines crash in Ukraine - was "a coincidence".
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. Western leaders have accused Russia of arming rebels in eastern Ukraine, who they believe shot down flight MH17 with a ground-to-air missile, with the UK pushing for tougher sanctions on Russia.