Britain has appointed a senior judge to hold an inquest into the death of Alexander Litvinenko, the former Russian agent turned Kremlin critic whose death from polonium poisoning in London in 2006 soured relations between London and Moscow.
Britain’s judicial office said yesterday it had selected Robert Owen, an experienced judge, for the task and that he would hold a hearing in September to decide how the inquest would be conducted and whether it would be heard before a jury.
Mr Litvinenko’s wife Marina, who lives in Britain, said she felt relieved the decision had finally been made. “I am just happy,” she said.
The decision to appoint a judge comes a week after Russian president Vladimir Putin made his first visit to London in nine years to watch judo with British prime minister David Cameron.
It risks souring slowly improving relations.
Ties between Britain and Russia plunged to a post-Cold War low after Litvinenko’s killing complete with tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions. – (Reuters)