Britain and Russia are conspiring to shut down the inquest into the death of Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko to preserve crucial trade interests, a lawyer for his widow has claimed.
British foreign secretary William Hague has moved to exclude sensitive details relating to the former KGB agent’s ties to MI6 from the inquiry on the grounds they could pose a “risk of serious harm to the public”, a pre-inquest review was told.
But Ben Emmerson QC, representing Mr Litvinenko’s widow, Marina, said such claims should be treated with the “greatest degree of scepticism” and suggested attempts to withhold evidence pointed towards a conspiracy at the highest levels of government.
The inquest was due to open on May 1st, more than six years after Mr Litvinenko (43) was poisoned with polonium-210 while drinking tea, allegedly at a meeting with two Russians – former KGB contacts Andrei Lugovoy and Dmitry Kovtun – at the Millennium Hotel in London. Prosecutors named Mr Lugovoy as the main suspect in the case following Mr Litvinenko’s death in November 2006.
Ms Litvinenko yesterday expressed dismay as it emerged her late husband’s inquest was likely to be further delayed, amid concerns it could be shelved.
Security reasons
The pre-inquest review, at London’s royal courts of justice, was told Mr Hague had signed a public interest immunity certificate to prevent certain details relating to the case from being placed in open court for security reasons.
The nature of this evidence has not been revealed.
Mr Emmerson said such a move suggested the British government was acting to protect relations with Russia. “The British government, like the Russian government, is conspiring to get this inquest closed down in exchange for substantial trade interests.”
He called on the government to provide more detail relating to the information it wanted to withhold.
At a previous hearing, it emerged evidence found by the British government showed the Russian state was involved in Mr Litvinenko’s murder. – (PA)