Britain's Home Secretary announced Tuesday that the government will hold an inquiry into the radiation poisoning death of a former KGB spy – a move set to further strain ties with Russia following a week of tensions over the suspected shooting down of a Malaysia Airlines plane in eastern Ukraine.
A government spokesperson said that the death of Alexander Litvinenko was an "appalling crime and we want to see those responsible prosecuted through the courts.”
The decision, announced by Theresa May in a written statement to British parliament, follows pressure from Litvinenko's widow and the current coroner in the inquest into his death, Sir Robert Owen.
The 43-year-old is believed to have been poisoned at a London hotel when polonium was slipped into his tea. He was meeting two Russian men at the time, one of which was a former KGB agent.
Litvinenko's family have said that they believe he was working for Britain's Secret Intelligence Service at the time, and was ordered to be killed by Russia.
The public inquiry will be “independent” according to the UK government and will be chaired by senior judge Owen. In preliminary hearings before the inquest in 2012 it was revealed that Litvinenko had been a paid agent for MI6 and Spanish secret services.
On Litvinenko's death in 2006, the UK government said it was “committed” to “seeking justice” for the family.
The UK has previously resisted calls for a public inquiry, but in February this year the high court said that the home office was wrong to rule out a public inquiry before the outcome of an inquest.
The government has previously named Andrei Lugovoi, a former KGB agent, and fellow former KGB agent Dmitry Kovtun, as chief suspects. Russia has refused requests to extradite the pair.
In 2007, Lugovoi became an Russian MP, which gave him immunity from prosecution.
Relations between the UK and Russia - never the warmest - have become strained this week due to the suspected shooting down of flight MH17 with 283 passengers and 15 crew members on board.
It is believed that the plane was downed by a surface-to-air missile, launched from an area controlled by Russian-backed separatists inside of Ukraine.
Western leaders have accused Russia of arming the separatists. On Monday, Prime Minister David Cameron said that he was in favor of further sanctions against the country.
Litvinenko was buried as a Muslim, close associate Chechen dissident Akhmed Zakayev saying that he believed he converted to Islam on his deathbed.
Funeral prayers were held for Litvinenko at Regent’s Park mosque.
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