LONDON – The British government says international relations were a factor in its decision not to hold a public inquiry into the death of former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko.
Coroner Robert Owen had asked the government to hold a broad inquiry into the death of the KGB agent turned Kremlin critic, who died in London in 2006 after ingesting radioactive polonium-210.
Owen said an inquiry would be able to consider secret evidence to determine whether the Russian state was involved.
Last week Owen said the government had refused his request. In a letter published Friday, Home Secretary Theresa May spelled out her reasons, among them the cost.
She also said "it is true that international relations have been a factor in the government's decision-making" — although not the deciding factor.
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