What you need to know about the Alexander Litvinenko inquiry indy100 indy100 Indy100 logoNewsletter sign upRegister/Sign inTop 100NewsViralPoliticsCelebritiesScience & TechVideoWishlistWishlistBooksFashion & BeautyFood & DrinkHome & GardenKidsSports & FitnessTechTravel & OutdoorsMoreScience & techVideoConversationsSportIdentitiesLifestyleShowbizTVSearchxNews
What you need to know about the Alexander Litvinenko inquiry
Kim SenguptaKunal Dutta (editedI100 StaffJan 28, 2015 Litvinenko's widow Marina and Ben Emmerson QC arrive at the Royal Courts of Justice on Tuesday The public inquiry into the death of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko, who was given a fatal dose of a radioactive substance in November 2006, began yesterday. It is believed a cup of tea given to Litvinenko was spiked with polonium-210 after he was deemed a traitor by the Kremlin. The two prime suspects are Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun, who known to have met Litvinenko at London's Millennium Hotel shortly before his death. The Crown Prosecution Service has tried and failed to get the two men extradited from Russia to face trial. Both deny any involvement in the killing. As the inquiry began yesterday, Litvinenko's death was described as "an act of nuclear terrorism on the streets of a major city" because of the trail it left across London. Vladimir Putin, accused by Litvinenko on his deathbed of personally sanctioning his murder, was described by Ben Emmerson QC, representing Litvinenko's widow Marina and son Anatoly, as a "common criminal dressed up as a head of state". The startling truth, which is going to be revealed by the evidence in this inquiry, is that a significant part of Russian organised crime around the world is organised directly from the offices of the Kremlin. Vladimir Putin’s Russia is a mafia state.Ben Emmerson QC Litvinenko died an agonising death in hospital 22 days after being poisoned (Picture: Getty) The inquiry' s key questions
1. Does the case against Russia involvement in the Litvinenko murder come up to proof? Inquiry chair Sir Robert Owen has already admitted there is a prima facie case against Moscow. Key evidence gathered by British and US intelligence services is alleged to make the charge against the Kremlin compelling. The inquiry will be the first time the prosecution case will be tested. 2. Was Litvinenko working for MI6, Britain’s secret intelligence service when he was murdered? Litvinenko’s widow Marina believes this was the motive behind her husband’s killing. 3. Was he murdered by rogue elements of the FSB, the organisation which succeeded the KGB? Litvinenko worked for the FSB but then became a whistleblower by revealing he had been ordered to murder Boris Berezovsky, the former Russian oligarch exiled in Britain. 4. If not Russia, then who? Conspiracy theories about Litvinenko’s death abound. Did his death come about as a result of his work for the KGB in Chechnya in the 1990s? 5. If the case against the Kremlin is convincing what will the diplomatic consequences be? UK-Russian relations in the wake of Litvinenko’s death dipped to their lowest since the Cold War ended. Any findings from Sir Robert will come as sanctions against Moscow that were imposed because of its involvement in Ukraine bite increasingly deeper. Andre Lugovoi (Picture: Getty) Timeline of events
2000 Mr Litvinenko flees Russia and seeks political asylum in Britain 2002 He co-writes a book accusing Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation superiors of murdering more than 300 people. 2006 He begins to investigate the murder of journalist Anna Politkovskaya. November 1 2006 He is admitted to hospital a few hours after meeting two Russian men, Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun, at the Millennium hotel in London. November 17 2006 Police begin investigation over his illness. November 23 2006 Mr Litvinenko dies in intensive care. November 24 2006 Litvinenko family releases a posthumous statement, in which he accuses Vladimir Putin of involvement in his death. November 25 2006 Large quantities of radioactive isotope polonium-210 found in Mr Litvinenko’s body. May 2007 Crown prosecutors name Lugovoi as a suspect. July 2007 Moscow refuses extradition request for Lugovoi. 2012 A pre-inquest review hearing is told that confidential material points to evidence “as to the culpability of the Russian state”. February 2014 High Court overrules Home Secretary’s decision not to hold an inquiry. July 2014 Coroner Sir Robert Owen announced as chair of inquiry.Keep reading...Show less Billionaire explains what it was like to lose $70 billion in one go
US actors Reynolds and McElhenney to be honoured by people of Wales
How will the next prime minister and Tory leader be chosen
Please log in or register to upvote this article Top 100
Man endures ' 29 hour flight' with screaming kids for the entire trip
flightplanechildflightOct 12, 2022 How likely is it that Boris Johnson could be prime minister again
Boris Johnsonboris johnsontory leadership contesttory leadership racetory leaderTory leadershiptory leadershipConservativesconservative partyConservative Partyconservative leadership raceconservativesBoris JohnsonOct 21, 2022 The Rocky career of Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne Johnsonthe rockblack adamwweDwayne JohnsonOct 21, 2022 Lorraine Kelly hits out at Madonna' s ' boiled egg' face
madonnamadonnalorraine kellygmbshowbizplastic surgeryOct 11, 2022 Elon Musk is actually selling a ' Burnt Hair' fragrance
elon muskthe boring companyperfumeelon muskburnt hairOct 12, 2022 Jon Stewart slams Arkansas attorney general for her ' anti-trans law'
lgbt+transgenderlgbt+jon stewartapple tvarkansasus newsnewsOct 11, 2022 Just Stop Oil protester praised for ' great' explanation of soup stunt
just stop oilvan goghprotestclimate activistsjust stop oilOct 19, 2022 Couple spark debate for ' scandalous' wedding cake topper
wedding caketiktokwedding cakeviralOct 12, 2022 Love Island star shows extent of how far influencers edit photos
Love IslandOct 11, 2022 Steven Seagal describes Putin as one of ' greatest world leaders'
steven seagalOct 10, 2022 Lizzo wears empowering shirt after being fat-shamed by Kanye West
lizzoOct 10, 2022 A lettuce just outlasted Liz Truss' stint as prime minister
Liz TrussOct 20, 2022 Newsnight guest says ' you can' t treat mortgages like prime ministers'
Liz TrussOct 20, 2022 The best memes about Suella Braverman ' departing' as home secretary
suella bravermanOct 19, 2022The Conversation (0)