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British MI6 role in Russian spy Litvinenko's death to be probed
November 3, 2012 - 18:05 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - The inquest into the death of murdered Russian
former spy Alexander Litvinenko could examine the possible role of
British spies in his death, according to BBC News.
MI6 and the Russian secret service, the FSB, may become "interested
parties", a pre-inquest review has heard.
The inquest is set to be held as soon as possible next year.
Mr Litvinenko, 43, is thought to have been poisoned with polonium-210
after meeting two Russians for tea at a central London hotel in
November 2006.
The pre-inquest review was held on Friday at Camden Town Hall, in north London.
Hugh Davies, counsel to the inquest, said it could extend to include
"the possible culpability of the Russian state", as well as "the
possible culpability of the British state in the death of Alexander
Litvinenko either: one, in carrying out by itself or its agents the
poisoning; or two, failing to take reasonable steps to protect Mr
Litvinenko from a real and immediate risk to his life".
He said the Russian state has been invited since January to become an
interested party in the inquest, although the offer had not yet been
taken up.
The BBC's Gordon Corera said interested party status would mean its
representatives would be able to cross-examine witnesses and examine
documents.
Mr Davies told the hearing there were a "number of competing and
increasingly controversial theories" surrounding Mr Litvinenko's
death.
He said the inquest's scope could include involvement of other
parties, including his friend, a fugitive Russian tycoon Boris
Berezovsky, Chechen-related groups and the Spanish mafia.
November 3, 2012 - 18:05 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - The inquest into the death of murdered Russian
former spy Alexander Litvinenko could examine the possible role of
British spies in his death, according to BBC News.
MI6 and the Russian secret service, the FSB, may become "interested
parties", a pre-inquest review has heard.
The inquest is set to be held as soon as possible next year.
Mr Litvinenko, 43, is thought to have been poisoned with polonium-210
after meeting two Russians for tea at a central London hotel in
November 2006.
The pre-inquest review was held on Friday at Camden Town Hall, in north London.
Hugh Davies, counsel to the inquest, said it could extend to include
"the possible culpability of the Russian state", as well as "the
possible culpability of the British state in the death of Alexander
Litvinenko either: one, in carrying out by itself or its agents the
poisoning; or two, failing to take reasonable steps to protect Mr
Litvinenko from a real and immediate risk to his life".
He said the Russian state has been invited since January to become an
interested party in the inquest, although the offer had not yet been
taken up.
The BBC's Gordon Corera said interested party status would mean its
representatives would be able to cross-examine witnesses and examine
documents.
Mr Davies told the hearing there were a "number of competing and
increasingly controversial theories" surrounding Mr Litvinenko's
death.
He said the inquest's scope could include involvement of other
parties, including his friend, a fugitive Russian tycoon Boris
Berezovsky, Chechen-related groups and the Spanish mafia.