A lawyer acting for Alexander Litvinenko’s widow said that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office was attempting to block the disclosure of evidence that showed Russian involvement in his death and exposed the former KGB agent’s relationship with MI6.
“You are being steamrollered by two states acting in collaboration with one another,” Ben Emmerson, QC, told Sir Robert Owen, a High Court judge who is acting as the coroner.
Mr Emmerson highlighted a trip by David Cameron to Russia in November 2011 that secured £215 million in trade deals but failed to make progress in the Litvinenko case. He said it was crucial to scotch any speculation that “it’s because David Cameron is interested in promoting trade with Russia that he is trying to close down this inquest.”
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The request was challenged by Mr Emmerson, who said that it was a misuse of the Public Interest Immunity System, and by Alex Bailin, a lawyer acting for a number of media organisations, including The Times, who said that the Government must at least clarify what issues were at stake and what harm they could cause.
“You are being steamrollered by two states acting in collaboration with one another,” Ben Emmerson, QC, told Sir Robert Owen, a High Court judge who is acting as the coroner.
Mr Emmerson highlighted a trip by David Cameron to Russia in November 2011 that secured £215 million in trade deals but failed to make progress in the Litvinenko case. He said it was crucial to scotch any speculation that “it’s because David Cameron is interested in promoting trade with Russia that he is trying to close down this inquest.”
...
The request was challenged by Mr Emmerson, who said that it was a misuse of the Public Interest Immunity System, and by Alex Bailin, a lawyer acting for a number of media organisations, including The Times, who said that the Government must at least clarify what issues were at stake and what harm they could cause.
