Litvinenko poisoned not once but twice, inquiry hears

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Series Details 27.01.15
Publication Date 27/01/2015
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The long-awaited inquiry into the death of former Russian spy turned Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko began on 27 January 2015.

During opening statements, attorney Robin Tam, the inquiry's legal counsel, said the events surrounding Litvinenko's death 'would not disgrace the pages of a thriller', before telling Judge Robert Owen that Mr Litvinenko had been poisoned not once - as was previously thought - but twice.

On his deathbed, the former spy was reported as saying he had no doubt that had been done by Russian secret service on the order of President Vladimir Putin.

Russia has always denied involvement, and the incident soured Russian-English relations for years. Moscow refused to extradite Lugovoi and Kovtun, stalling the initial investigation. The inquiry was further halted by British authorities refusing to disclose secret intelligence evidence. Now that evidence was going to be heard, but behind closed doors.

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Related Links
ESO: Background information: Alexander Litvinenko death: Home secretary announces inquiry http://www.europeansources.info/record/alexander-litvinenko-death-home-secretary-announces-inquiry/
BBC News, 28.01.15: Litvinenko post-mortem 'probably most dangerous ever' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31020466
BBC News, 27.01.15: Litvinenko 'poisoned by Russian mafia state,' family's lawyer claims http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31008694
The Guardian, 27.01.15: Alexander Litvinenko had survived another poisoning attempt, inquiry told http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/27/alexander-litvinenko-survived-another-poisoning-attempt-inquiry

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