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| Britain Announces Inquiry Into Killing of Ex-K.G.B. Officer | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| LONDON — Almost eight years after Alexander V. Litvinenko, a former K.G.B. whistle-blower, was poisoned to death in London with radioactive polonium, the British authorities announced on Tuesday that a public inquiry would be held into his death, permitting investigators to explore whether Russian leaders ordered the killing. | LONDON — Almost eight years after Alexander V. Litvinenko, a former K.G.B. whistle-blower, was poisoned to death in London with radioactive polonium, the British authorities announced on Tuesday that a public inquiry would be held into his death, permitting investigators to explore whether Russian leaders ordered the killing. |
| At a time when President Vladimir V. Putin faces mounting Western opprobrium for his support of pro-Russian separatists after the downing of a Malaysian jetliner over eastern Ukraine, the announcement from Theresa May, the British home secretary, could be seen by Moscow as a further rebuke. | At a time when President Vladimir V. Putin faces mounting Western opprobrium for his support of pro-Russian separatists after the downing of a Malaysian jetliner over eastern Ukraine, the announcement from Theresa May, the British home secretary, could be seen by Moscow as a further rebuke. |
| “It is more than seven years since Mr. Litvinenko’s death, and I very much hope that this inquiry will be of some comfort to his widow,” Ms. May said in a written statement to Parliament. | “It is more than seven years since Mr. Litvinenko’s death, and I very much hope that this inquiry will be of some comfort to his widow,” Ms. May said in a written statement to Parliament. |
| The announcement reflected a remarkable about-face by the government of Prime Minister David Cameron, which has long resisted demands by Mr. Litvinenko’s supporters for scrutiny of any role in his death by the Russian state or the British intelligence services. | The announcement reflected a remarkable about-face by the government of Prime Minister David Cameron, which has long resisted demands by Mr. Litvinenko’s supporters for scrutiny of any role in his death by the Russian state or the British intelligence services. |
| “I am relieved and delighted with this decision,” Marina Litvinenko, the former K.G.B. officer’s widow, said in a statement, using the nickname by which family and friends knew Mr. Litvinenko. “It sends a message to Sasha’s murderers: no matter how strong and powerful you are, truth will win out in the end and you will be held accountable for your crimes.” | “I am relieved and delighted with this decision,” Marina Litvinenko, the former K.G.B. officer’s widow, said in a statement, using the nickname by which family and friends knew Mr. Litvinenko. “It sends a message to Sasha’s murderers: no matter how strong and powerful you are, truth will win out in the end and you will be held accountable for your crimes.” |
| “It has taken nearly eight years to bring those culpable for Sasha’s murder to justice,” she said. “I look forward to the day when the truth behind my husband’s murder is revealed for the whole world to see.” | “It has taken nearly eight years to bring those culpable for Sasha’s murder to justice,” she said. “I look forward to the day when the truth behind my husband’s murder is revealed for the whole world to see.” |
| Mr. Litvinenko became a bitter foe of Mr. Putin in 1998 when the Russian leader, also a former K.G.B. officer, refused to investigate allegations of corruption and malfeasance in the ranks of the F.S.B., the domestic successor to the K.G.B. At the time, Mr. Putin was the newly appointed head of the F.S.B. | Mr. Litvinenko became a bitter foe of Mr. Putin in 1998 when the Russian leader, also a former K.G.B. officer, refused to investigate allegations of corruption and malfeasance in the ranks of the F.S.B., the domestic successor to the K.G.B. At the time, Mr. Putin was the newly appointed head of the F.S.B. |
| Mr. Litvinenko, 43, who fled to Britain with his family in 2000, died an excruciating death in November 2006, after drinking tea from a pot laced with polonium 210, a radioactive isotope, at a hotel in central London. The British authorities are seeking the extradition of Andrei K. Lugovoi, another former K.G.B. officer, to face murder charges. | Mr. Litvinenko, 43, who fled to Britain with his family in 2000, died an excruciating death in November 2006, after drinking tea from a pot laced with polonium 210, a radioactive isotope, at a hotel in central London. The British authorities are seeking the extradition of Andrei K. Lugovoi, another former K.G.B. officer, to face murder charges. |
| Russia has refused to hand over Mr. Lugovoi, saying its Constitution does not permit the extradition of its citizens. In a deathbed statement, Mr. Litvinenko accused Mr. Putin of responsibility for his poisoning, but the Russian leader dismissed the charge. | Russia has refused to hand over Mr. Lugovoi, saying its Constitution does not permit the extradition of its citizens. In a deathbed statement, Mr. Litvinenko accused Mr. Putin of responsibility for his poisoning, but the Russian leader dismissed the charge. |
| Plans to hold an inquest led by a senior judge, Sir Robert Owen, were dropped after the British Foreign Office invoked national security interests to prevent the inquest from even considering whether Moscow played a part in the killing or whether British intelligence could have prevented it. | Plans to hold an inquest led by a senior judge, Sir Robert Owen, were dropped after the British Foreign Office invoked national security interests to prevent the inquest from even considering whether Moscow played a part in the killing or whether British intelligence could have prevented it. |
| The judge said last year that the restrictions made it impossible to hold a “fair and fearless” inquest, and he urged the establishment of a public inquiry that would be empowered to hold closed-door sessions about involvement by the Kremlin or MI6, the British foreign intelligence agency. Ms. Litvinenko has said her husband was a paid agent of MI6 at the time he was killed. He and his family had been granted British citizenship weeks before his death. | The judge said last year that the restrictions made it impossible to hold a “fair and fearless” inquest, and he urged the establishment of a public inquiry that would be empowered to hold closed-door sessions about involvement by the Kremlin or MI6, the British foreign intelligence agency. Ms. Litvinenko has said her husband was a paid agent of MI6 at the time he was killed. He and his family had been granted British citizenship weeks before his death. |
| The British government initially refused to hold a public inquiry but, in February, three judges ordered Ms. May to reconsider. In her announcement on Tuesday, Ms. May said it would be up to Sir Robert, the judge, to make arrangements for the inquiry. | The British government initially refused to hold a public inquiry but, in February, three judges ordered Ms. May to reconsider. In her announcement on Tuesday, Ms. May said it would be up to Sir Robert, the judge, to make arrangements for the inquiry. |