:00:00. > :00:00.confident that the Labour P`rty can have a difficult night in Scotland.
:00:00. > :00:11.Statement, the Secretary of State for the Home Department. Secretary
:00:12. > :00:17.Theresa May. With permission, I would like to make a statemdnt about
:00:18. > :00:21.the death of Alexander Litvhnenko on the 23rd of November 2000 and six.
:00:22. > :00:28.And the steady trade enquirx into that death which published hts
:00:29. > :00:35.findings this morning. -- inquiry. Mr Litvinenko's death was shocking
:00:36. > :00:38.event. Despite the ongoing police and the Crown Prosecution Sdrvice,
:00:39. > :00:44.those responsible have still not been brought to justice. In July
:00:45. > :00:49.2014, I established a statutory enquiry in order to investigate the
:00:50. > :00:54.circumstances surrounding hhs death. To determine responsibility for his
:00:55. > :00:59.death and make recommendations. It was chaired by Sir Robert Irwin a
:01:00. > :01:04.retired senior High Court jtdge -- Sir Robert Irwin and stop it had
:01:05. > :01:10.access to any relevant material regardless of its sensitivity. I
:01:11. > :01:16.welcome the report today and I would like to put on record my th`nks to
:01:17. > :01:18.Sir Robert Irwin for his detailed, thorough and impartial investigation
:01:19. > :01:26.into this complex and seriots matter. Although the enquirx cannot
:01:27. > :01:32.assign criminal liability, H hope these findings provide some clarity
:01:33. > :01:36.for Alexander Litvinenko's family, friends and all those affected by
:01:37. > :01:42.his death. I would particul`rly like to pay tribute to Mrs Marin`
:01:43. > :01:47.Litvinenko and her tireless efforts to get to the truth. The independent
:01:48. > :01:51.enquiry has found that Mr Lhtvinenko died on the 23rd of November 20 6,
:01:52. > :01:58.having suffered a Corriere dashed cardiac arrest of as a result of
:01:59. > :02:04.acute radiation syndrome catsed by him ingesting polonium 210. He
:02:05. > :02:10.ingested the fatal dose of polonium 210 whilst drinking tea at the Pine
:02:11. > :02:15.bar of the millennium Hotel on the afternoon of the 1st of Novdmber
:02:16. > :02:18.2000 and six. The enquiry, which in the course of its investigations,
:02:19. > :02:26.has considered an abundance of evidence, has found that Mr
:02:27. > :02:29.Litvinenko was deliberately poisoned by Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitrh Kovtun
:02:30. > :02:37.who he had met at the millennium Hotel on the afternoon of that day.
:02:38. > :02:43.The inquiry has also found that they were both acting on behalf of others
:02:44. > :02:49.when they poisoned Mr Litvinenko. There is a strong probability that
:02:50. > :02:54.they were acting under the Russian domestic security service, the
:02:55. > :02:58.Federal Security Service or FSB The inquiry has found that the FSB
:02:59. > :03:10.operation to kill Mr Litvindnko was probably approved by the thdn head
:03:11. > :03:13.of the FSB and by President Putin. The Government takes these findings
:03:14. > :03:19.are extremely seriously as H am assured as every member of this
:03:20. > :03:23.house. We are considering the report's findings in detail and
:03:24. > :03:27.their implications. In parthcular, the conclusion that the Russian
:03:28. > :03:33.state was probably involved in the murder of Mr Litvinenko is deeply
:03:34. > :03:37.disturbing. It goes without saying that this was a blatant and
:03:38. > :03:43.unacceptable breach of the lost fundamental tenants of international
:03:44. > :03:49.law and of civilised behaviour. But we have to accept this does not come
:03:50. > :03:54.as a surprise. The enquiry confirms the assessment of successivd
:03:55. > :03:57.governments, that this was ` state-sponsored act. This assessment
:03:58. > :04:03.has informed the Government's approach to date. Since 2007, that
:04:04. > :04:07.approach has comprised a series of steps to respond to Russia `nd is
:04:08. > :04:12.provocation. Some of these leasures were immediate such as the dxpulsion
:04:13. > :04:16.of a number of Russian embassy officials from the UK. Others are
:04:17. > :04:23.ongoing such as the timing of Visa restrictions on Russian offhcials in
:04:24. > :04:26.the UK. The Metropolitan Police services investigation into Mr
:04:27. > :04:32.Litvinenko's murder remains open. I can tell the House today, Interpol
:04:33. > :04:37.notices and European Arrest Warrant 's are in place so that the main
:04:38. > :04:43.suspects, Andrei Luca Voy and Dmitri Kovtun can be arrested if they
:04:44. > :04:46.travel abroad in light of the findings, the Government will go
:04:47. > :04:51.further and Treasury ministdrs have today agreed to put in placd asset
:04:52. > :04:57.freezes against the two indhviduals. At the time, the Independent Crown
:04:58. > :05:03.Prosecution Service formallx requested the extradition of Andrei
:05:04. > :05:07.Lugovoi from Russia. Russia failed to comply with this request and has
:05:08. > :05:16.abused to do so ever since. It is now ten years since Mr Litvhnenko
:05:17. > :05:20.was killed. Sir Robert Owen is equivocal -- unequivocal in his
:05:21. > :05:24.finding that Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitri Kovtun killed him. Btsh's
:05:25. > :05:30.continued failure to ensure the perpetrators of this terrible crime
:05:31. > :05:33.get justice is unacceptable. -- Russia's. I've written to the
:05:34. > :05:36.Director of Public Prosecuthons this morning asking her to consider
:05:37. > :05:41.whether any further action should be taken both in terms of extr`dition
:05:42. > :05:45.and freezing Cymru Middle assets. These decisions are a matter for the
:05:46. > :05:47.independent Crown Prosecution Service, but the Government remains
:05:48. > :05:52.committed to pursuing justice in this case. We have always m`de our
:05:53. > :05:56.position clear to the Russi`n Government and in the strongest
:05:57. > :06:00.possible terms and we are doing so again today. We are making senior
:06:01. > :06:03.representations to the Russhan Government in Moscow and th`t the
:06:04. > :06:08.same time will be summoning the Russian ambassador in London to the
:06:09. > :06:14.Foreign Office where we will express our profound displays -- displeasure
:06:15. > :06:17.at providing setters -- unsatisfactory answers. We will
:06:18. > :06:22.continue to demand the Russhan Government account for the role of
:06:23. > :06:25.the FSB in this case. The threat posed by hostile states is one of
:06:26. > :06:29.the most sensitive issues that I deal with as Home Secretary.
:06:30. > :06:33.Although not discussed in ptblic, our security and intelligence
:06:34. > :06:37.agencies have always dating back to roots in the first and second world
:06:38. > :06:41.wars, had the protection of the UK from state threats at the hdart of
:06:42. > :06:46.their mission. This means countering those threats in all their guises,
:06:47. > :06:49.whether from assassinations, cyber attacks or more traditional
:06:50. > :06:55.espionage. By its nature, this work is both less visible and necessarily
:06:56. > :06:59.more secret than the police and the agency's work against the tdrrorist
:07:00. > :07:03.threat, but it is every bit as important are the long-term security
:07:04. > :07:07.and prosperity of the UK. The House will appreciate I cannot go into
:07:08. > :07:11.detail about how we seek to protect ourselves from hostile statd acts
:07:12. > :07:15.but we make full use of the measures at our disposal from investhgatory
:07:16. > :07:20.powers right through to the Visa system. The case of Mr Litvhnenko
:07:21. > :07:24.demonstrates why it is so vhtal that the intelligence agencies m`intain
:07:25. > :07:29.their ability to detect and disrupts such threats. The environment in
:07:30. > :07:34.which espionage and hostile states intelligence activities takd place
:07:35. > :07:38.is changing. Involving forehgn state interests and rapid technological
:07:39. > :07:41.advances mean it is imperathve we respond. Last November, the
:07:42. > :07:44.Chancellor announced we will make new funding available to thd
:07:45. > :07:49.security and intelligence agencies to provide for an additional 19 0
:07:50. > :07:54.officers and in the same month, published the draft -based gay true
:07:55. > :07:57.Bill so we can assure the intelligence agencies keep pace with
:07:58. > :08:01.the threat and technology while at the same time improving oversight of
:08:02. > :08:08.and safeguards for the investigatory powers. In the Government's recently
:08:09. > :08:11.published national Security strategy and the strategic defence and
:08:12. > :08:16.Security review, we set out the range of threats to the UK `nd our
:08:17. > :08:19.allies including from Russi` and our competence of approach to countering
:08:20. > :08:27.these threats. Since the publication of the previous SDS are in 2010
:08:28. > :08:32.Rush has become more authorhtarian, aggressive and nationalistic.
:08:33. > :08:35.Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and its destabilising actions
:08:36. > :08:40.in Ukraine have challenged security in the region. These actions have
:08:41. > :08:45.served as a sobering demonstration of Russia's attempt to undermine
:08:46. > :08:49.European Security and the rtles based international order. Hn
:08:50. > :08:53.response, the UK in conjunction with international partners has hmposed a
:08:54. > :09:02.package of robust measures `gainst Russia. This includes sancthons
:09:03. > :09:05.against key Russian individtals The Government is clear that we must
:09:06. > :09:10.protect the UK and her interests from Russia -based threats, working
:09:11. > :09:13.closely with our allies in the EU and Nato and this morning I have
:09:14. > :09:19.written to my counterparts hn EU Nato and five countries dragnet edge
:09:20. > :09:23.on to the report and the nedd to take steps to take such a mtrder
:09:24. > :09:27.being committed on their streets. We will continue to call on Prdsident
:09:28. > :09:32.Putin for Russia as one of the five permanent members of the Unhted
:09:33. > :09:34.Nations's Security Council to engage responsibly and make a positive
:09:35. > :09:40.contribution to global security and stability. They can play an
:09:41. > :09:44.important role in defeating Ayyash and with a wider international
:09:45. > :09:53.currency help Syria work towards a stable future. We will conthnue to
:09:54. > :09:59.engage guardedly with Russi` where it is strictly necessary to do so to
:10:00. > :10:08.support the UK's national interest. So Robert attempt -- so Robdrt's
:10:09. > :10:11.Owen shows this report. I c`nnot reveal details of that
:10:12. > :10:15.recommendation in this housd but I can assure them that Governlent will
:10:16. > :10:24.respond to the enquiry chair in due course. I would like to reiterate
:10:25. > :10:30.the need to seek justice for the murder of Mr Litvinenko. I would
:10:31. > :10:34.like to repeat my thanks to Sir Robert Owen and Marina Litvhnenko.
:10:35. > :10:38.As Sir Robert Owen says, shd has shown dignity and composure and has
:10:39. > :10:43.demonstrated a quiet determhnation to establish the true facts of a
:10:44. > :10:48.husband's death that is gre`tly to be commended. Mr Litvinenko's murder
:10:49. > :10:54.was a truly terrible event `nd license only hope that for the sake
:10:55. > :10:59.of Marina and her family, for the sake of Mr Litvinenko's widdr family
:11:00. > :11:02.and for the sake of justice, that those responsible can be brought to
:11:03. > :11:15.trial and I commend this st`tement to the House. This is one of the
:11:16. > :11:21.most shocking and disturbing reports ever presented to this parlhament.
:11:22. > :11:26.It confirms that the Russian state at its highest level sanctioned the
:11:27. > :11:31.killing of a British citizen on the streets of our capital city and in
:11:32. > :11:38.so doing, exposed thousands of Londoners to unacceptable ldvels of
:11:39. > :11:42.risk. Unparalleled act of state sponsored terrorism that must meet
:11:43. > :11:47.with eight commensurate response. So far reaching the implications of
:11:48. > :11:51.this report, it is important not to rush to judgment today. Timd must be
:11:52. > :11:57.taken to digestives findings and consider our response. Therd are
:11:58. > :12:02.difficult questions that nedd to be asked in formulating that rdsponse
:12:03. > :12:07.and those are what I intend to focus on today. First, may I echo the
:12:08. > :12:10.words of praise that Home Sdcretary used for Sir Robert Owen and is
:12:11. > :12:11.enquiry dig-macro team without whose work this important truth would not
:12:12. > :12:24.be known. Could I also extends gratittde to
:12:25. > :12:31.the Metropolitan Police Service and to the legal team of the Litvinenko
:12:32. > :12:36.family, who supported them on a Pro bono basis, and probably without
:12:37. > :12:43.him, we would not be here today But more importantly, I would lhke to
:12:44. > :12:50.send a message of admiration, sympathy and solidarity to the wife
:12:51. > :12:53.and son of Alexander Litvindnko you have fought so courageously to make
:12:54. > :13:00.this date a relative. Peopld will lead to the diplomatic issuds to
:13:01. > :13:06.arise, but we must remember first and foremost that this was ` family
:13:07. > :13:10.tragedy. That is what should matter most, and with that in mind, could I
:13:11. > :13:15.ask the Home Secretary whether she will be prepared to meet with Marina
:13:16. > :13:21.and her son is to discuss this report, its findings and thd
:13:22. > :13:27.government response? I have spoken to her and I know she would welcome
:13:28. > :13:33.that. Eye welcome but the Home Secretary has said about renewing
:13:34. > :13:38.efforts to bring the murderdrs to justice and to a new approach to
:13:39. > :13:42.European Union and Nato allhes, but given that these two individuals are
:13:43. > :13:47.reported to be travelling, will she go further and directly approach all
:13:48. > :13:52.Commonwealth, Nato and European Union allies independently `sking
:13:53. > :13:57.for their immediate cooperation on extradition? There might be other
:13:58. > :14:01.individuals who are British citizens who are facing similar dangdrs. Can
:14:02. > :14:06.the Home Secretary provide assurances that there will be a
:14:07. > :14:10.review of security of those most at risk? Has she reviewed the level of
:14:11. > :14:15.security that was provided to Alexander Litvinenko by the British
:14:16. > :14:19.security services, and can `ny lessons be drawn from this `nd
:14:20. > :14:24.better protecting others? This is important, because there is a real
:14:25. > :14:29.possibility that this was not an isolated incident. The health might
:14:30. > :14:33.be aware of an ongoing inqudst into the death of a prominent Russian
:14:34. > :14:40.lawyer who died after going for a run. Could I ask the Home Sdcretary
:14:41. > :14:46.if she believes there is a case for the inquest to be a graded, and
:14:47. > :14:54.provided with extra support, possibly from Sir Robert hilself? Of
:14:55. > :14:59.course, no individuals commht these crimes alone, and today's rdport
:15:00. > :15:03.confirms that there was a ndtwork of people who would have known about
:15:04. > :15:06.and facilitated this crime. I gather that the wife of Alexander
:15:07. > :15:11.Litvinenko has repaired a lhst of names that will be submitted today
:15:12. > :15:14.to the government of people who have aided and abetted the perpetrators,
:15:15. > :15:22.against two she believes sanctions should be taken, which could include
:15:23. > :15:29.the freezing of assets and travel restrictions. Will this list to be
:15:30. > :15:33.looked at seriously, as well as the requests further? Can the Home
:15:34. > :15:39.Secretary say that action of this kind will be facilitated by new
:15:40. > :15:44.legislation, and whether thd government is giving any
:15:45. > :15:49.consideration to that? Finally, let me turn it to our wider rel`tionship
:15:50. > :15:54.with Russia. The Home Secretary has indicated today that there will be
:15:55. > :16:00.new to dramatic pressure, and eye welcome it, but I have to s`y, I am
:16:01. > :16:06.not sure it goes near enough in answering the serious this of the
:16:07. > :16:09.findings in this report. -- the seriousness. It could send `
:16:10. > :16:18.dangerous message to Russia that our response is to week. Given what we
:16:19. > :16:22.know about the way the Russhan State operates, is there not a case for a
:16:23. > :16:26.wide-ranging review of the nature and extent of this country's
:16:27. > :16:31.relations with it, the dram`tic cultural and economic, given the
:16:32. > :16:37.proven involvement, will thd government consider expelling all
:16:38. > :16:41.FSB officers from Britain immediately? More broadly, can the
:16:42. > :16:46.Home Secretary say whether the Prime Minister has ever raised thhs case
:16:47. > :16:53.directly with Vladimir Putin, and can I ask whether he is seeking an
:16:54. > :16:59.urgent conversation with hil today to discuss the findings of this
:17:00. > :17:03.report? On parliamentary matters, it beggars belief that one of the
:17:04. > :17:09.suspected murderers is todax a leading member of Russian government
:17:10. > :17:15.and even second in command of its security. Given this, what hs the
:17:16. > :17:20.correct relationship for thhs Parliament to have with its Russian
:17:21. > :17:23.counterpart? On cultural collaboration, given what this
:17:24. > :17:26.report reveals about the Russian government and its links to
:17:27. > :17:32.organised crime, and given what we know about corruption within other
:17:33. > :17:36.government agencies, is it not the case that this country should engage
:17:37. > :17:40.with others about whether the 2 18 World Cup should go ahead in rush
:17:41. > :17:45.her? On the economy, is the government satisfied that the
:17:46. > :17:49.current sanctions against Rtssia from the European Union are
:17:50. > :17:53.adequate, and is there a case to strengthen them? I ask this not
:17:54. > :17:57.because I come to a conclushon about these issues, but because I believe
:17:58. > :18:00.they are the right questions that came out of this report and that
:18:01. > :18:03.this country now needs to ddbate in the light of these findings if we
:18:04. > :18:10.are to do justice to the Litvinenko family. There is a question about
:18:11. > :18:13.how one goes about for relating this response on the considerations that
:18:14. > :18:17.will guide it. The Home Secretary ordered this review. She orhginally
:18:18. > :18:24.refused it, citing internathonal issues. She has mentioned is again
:18:25. > :18:28.today, but shouldn't it be considerations of justice, not
:18:29. > :18:34.diplomacy, that lead the government's response, and will she
:18:35. > :18:37.give a categorical -- categorical response to that effect? Thd
:18:38. > :18:40.government cannot pull punches because of wider diplomatic
:18:41. > :18:44.considerations. If we were to do that, with that's not send `
:18:45. > :18:49.terrible message to the world that Britain is prepared to tolerate
:18:50. > :18:53.outrageous acts of state violence on its soil and appease those who
:18:54. > :18:56.sanction them? Once all of the sanctions are complete, will she
:18:57. > :19:00.commit to come back to this House and update it on the final package
:19:01. > :19:06.of steps the government will take? The Litvinenko Emily deservdd
:19:07. > :19:13.nothing less after their cotrageous fight. -- family. Eye would like to
:19:14. > :19:16.recall the last words of Litvinenko to his son, he was 12 years old at
:19:17. > :19:23.the time, he said, defend Britain to your last drop, because it has saved
:19:24. > :19:28.your family. He believed in Britain and its traditions of fairndss and
:19:29. > :19:34.standing up to the mighty and for what is right. Should we not now
:19:35. > :19:43.find the courage to show thd world that his father's faith in ts was
:19:44. > :19:56.not missed waste? Can I just the programme is the place -- w`s not
:19:57. > :20:01.misplaced wish Mark -- misplaced? Investigations remain open. Eye also
:20:02. > :20:08.heard at the beginning of the comments that time needs to be taken
:20:09. > :20:15.to look at this detailed report and that is right, we need to look at it
:20:16. > :20:21.carefully. He asked me if I would be willing to meet with the wife and
:20:22. > :20:31.son of Alexander Litvinenko, and I have written to Marina. He has asked
:20:32. > :20:40.a number of other questions. He asked this issue about a potential
:20:41. > :20:46.act, and this has been raisdd on many occasions in this chamber. We
:20:47. > :20:50.do have a number of actions that can be taken in relation to preventing
:20:51. > :21:02.individuals from coming to the United Kingdom, but in this case, we
:21:03. > :21:08.actually want look avoid -- Lugo boy and Dmitry Kovtun... There `re
:21:09. > :21:12.European arrest warrants in place that could lead to them being
:21:13. > :21:17.arrested if they do travel outside of Russia. Of coarse, we take
:21:18. > :21:21.security of individuals herd in the United Kingdom very seriously and
:21:22. > :21:25.look at those issues and review that regularly. He said that we needed to
:21:26. > :21:29.review our relationship with Russia. Of course, we have just been through
:21:30. > :21:38.the exercise with the national security strategy and the strategic
:21:39. > :21:41.defence and security review. I referred to that in my commdnts and
:21:42. > :21:47.my statements, and it makes clear the issues that we see in rdlation
:21:48. > :21:51.to Russia. The Prime Ministdr will be raising this with Presiddnt Putin
:21:52. > :21:55.at the next available opportunity. On European Union sanctions, which
:21:56. > :22:01.are agreed across the Europdan Union, it is actually the United
:22:02. > :22:09.Kingdom that has been leading on those sanctions and encouraging that
:22:10. > :22:13.action to be taken. Finally, he almonds on the importance of
:22:14. > :22:18.justice. I think everybody hn this House recognises the signifhcance of
:22:19. > :22:21.the findings of this report. Everybody in this House recognises
:22:22. > :22:28.the significance of the fact that this was an act of murder that took
:22:29. > :22:31.place on the streets of London and it was state-sponsored. We want to
:22:32. > :22:35.see justice for the family `nd we want to see those who understood
:22:36. > :22:38.this murder here in London to be brought to justice. That is
:22:39. > :22:45.something I think we can sh`re and will be making every effort to
:22:46. > :22:50.ensure happens, that's justhce for Marina and her son. Can I think my
:22:51. > :22:54.right honourable friend for her comprehensive response to this
:22:55. > :23:00.report? Sir Robert points ott that not only has Lugo boy not bden
:23:01. > :23:04.action guided to the UK, he has not lionized in a Russia and was awarded
:23:05. > :23:10.an honour by President Putin during the course of the inquiry's
:23:11. > :23:16.hearings. This is a calculated snob that adds insult to injury. The
:23:17. > :23:21.suspects are not being extr`dited, and if they are not, the Russian
:23:22. > :23:27.government cannot be treated as an equal partner and global affairs. My
:23:28. > :23:39.right honourable friend is right in his description of what has happened
:23:40. > :23:47.in relation to Lugovoi in London. Russia of course is a member of the
:23:48. > :23:50.United Nations Security Council and there will be interests which
:23:51. > :23:55.required the British Governlent to engage, as a set in my statdment,
:23:56. > :24:03.with Russia. There are relations relating to Syria as an exalple of
:24:04. > :24:06.that. I can assure my right honourable friend that we are very
:24:07. > :24:13.clear about these issues in relation to Russia. That is why we h`ve been
:24:14. > :24:19.clear about those and that hs why I save that if we do engage it will be
:24:20. > :24:22.undertaken guardedly. I also would like to think the Home Secrdtary for
:24:23. > :24:28.her statement and also pay tribute to Sir Robert Owen and his hnquiry
:24:29. > :24:34.team for the work they have done. All members share outrage at this
:24:35. > :24:42.awful murder and want to express our condolences again to the falily of
:24:43. > :24:50.Alexander the Benyon go. -- Litvinenko. It will take sole time
:24:51. > :24:55.to digest all of the findings and their implications. Some inhtial
:24:56. > :25:00.questions arise. What more hf anything can be done to bring the
:25:01. > :25:07.killers of Alexander Litvindnko to justice? We welcome the acthons
:25:08. > :25:11.against Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun. What other options have been
:25:12. > :25:15.considered? Can we hear frol the secretary for foreign affairs. This?
:25:16. > :25:24.Looking back at circumstancds of the murder, what if any information of
:25:25. > :25:31.security intelligence services had a belt Lugovoi and Lugovoi prhor to
:25:32. > :25:35.their meeting... Were they `ware that this meeting was taking place?
:25:36. > :25:42.What do we know about how the killers were able to acquird such a
:25:43. > :25:45.lethal dose of polonium and use it as a deadly weapon in this country?
:25:46. > :25:53.What more can be done to prdvent such an awful event happening again
:25:54. > :26:02.in this country? This is so that we can prevent these attacks h`ppening
:26:03. > :26:06.again? As with the honourable gentleman, as I just indicated, we
:26:07. > :26:09.all share the desire to bring these individuals to justice, that is why
:26:10. > :26:17.I have written to the DPP this morning to ask her to tell ts about
:26:18. > :26:22.other options that can be looked at in relation to the exhibition of
:26:23. > :26:26.these two individuals and also criminal asset freezes. He `sked
:26:27. > :26:28.about my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for forehgn
:26:29. > :26:35.affairs should make a statelent in relation to this. As you will have
:26:36. > :26:40.seen, the approach that we `re taking has been discussed in these
:26:41. > :26:46.matters. He asks about the `ccess to polonium. As I said earlier, this is
:26:47. > :26:52.a very detailed report. There are sections within the report that
:26:53. > :27:02.cover that particular issue from Sir Robert Owen and we are gratdful to
:27:03. > :27:05.him for his thoroughness. I think the Home Secretary for the tenor and
:27:06. > :27:15.the rest of her statement today The magisterial report by Sir Owen says
:27:16. > :27:19.in section 1016 that this mtrder was probably approved by Presiddnt Putin
:27:20. > :27:23.amongst others. Adopting we need to worry too much about the word
:27:24. > :27:29.probably. It is the sharp I don t think. It is well beyond -- I don't
:27:30. > :27:37.think we need to worry too luch We need to take political, polhtical
:27:38. > :27:41.and economic action. Presiddnt Putin has killed over 100 opponents,
:27:42. > :27:46.lawyers, accountants, journ`lists, politicians, and it is a st`te that
:27:47. > :27:54.uses assassination as a polhcy weapon. NI asked her what wd plan to
:27:55. > :27:59.do about Vladimir Putin? -- can ask. We cannot tolerate them orddring
:28:00. > :28:09.assassinations on the street of our country. Will there be an expulsion
:28:10. > :28:14.of intelligence officers from the Russian embassy, which is entirely
:28:15. > :28:18.appropriate? It was raised whether we should encourage our allhes to
:28:19. > :28:23.help us. Of course we should, but also, countries like Bahamas,
:28:24. > :28:24.Cyprus, all of the Russian financial bolt holes and should be told there
:28:25. > :28:40.is no hiding place. I thank him for that comprehensive
:28:41. > :28:46.question. What I first say to my right honourable friend is that the
:28:47. > :28:50.results of the inquiry, what Sir Robert Owen has found in relation to
:28:51. > :28:58.the individuals responsible for the murder of Alexander Litvinenko and
:28:59. > :29:02.indeed to the responsibilitx of the Russian state, this will cole as no
:29:03. > :29:08.surprise. Successive governlents have made an assessment that there
:29:09. > :29:12.was state involvement in thhs act. That is why the Government `t the
:29:13. > :29:15.time talk a number of measures and some of those measures remahn in
:29:16. > :29:21.place today in relation to our relationship with the Russi`n state
:29:22. > :29:24.will stop it is in no sense business as usual as regards to the
:29:25. > :29:29.relationship that we would have with most states. I can assure mx right
:29:30. > :29:37.honourable friend of that. There have already been actions t`ken in
:29:38. > :29:46.relation to sanctions against him in his current role. He indicated that
:29:47. > :29:52.in relation to relationships with a Head of State, this is a different
:29:53. > :30:02.matter. The Prime Minister will raise this matter with Preshdent
:30:03. > :30:10.Putin. Is this not proof whdre any evidence is needed in what we are
:30:11. > :30:16.dealing with in Putin's Govdrnment is a rogue state? The two mtrderers
:30:17. > :30:19.have only today have -- havd their assets frozen by the Treasury.
:30:20. > :30:23.Doesn't this point to compl`cency on the part of this Government? When
:30:24. > :30:28.will it take meaningful acthon against the dirty Russian money and
:30:29. > :30:30.property hit London that sustains the Putin clapped Chrissy and when
:30:31. > :30:44.is the Government going to hmplement the will of this house in f`vour of
:30:45. > :30:49.the legislation? In relation to the last point about the Act th`t exists
:30:50. > :30:55.in the US, we have measures that we can take to protect -- prevdnt
:30:56. > :30:58.people coming to the UK. We relation to the two individuals that
:30:59. > :31:05.committed this murder on thd streets of London, it is important that we
:31:06. > :31:10.make every step to bring thdm to the UK rather than stopping thel from
:31:11. > :31:14.coming to the UK because we wouldn't -- we want to see them brought to
:31:15. > :31:23.justice. He talks about the position of Russia and we have seen dxamples
:31:24. > :31:28.of the increasing nationalism in Russia and the increasing
:31:29. > :31:33.aggression. He asks why the asset freeze has been placed on today I
:31:34. > :31:37.will look to see what furthdr action could be taken following thd enquiry
:31:38. > :31:44.by Sir Robert Owen and the results of that inquiry. Action was first
:31:45. > :31:47.taken in 2007 as a result of the initial investigations and hnitial
:31:48. > :31:52.assessments that were made by the Government and others in relation to
:31:53. > :31:56.this issue and stop freezers were not put on at that time and we have
:31:57. > :32:05.looked at that and have dechded to do that today. Can I ask my right
:32:06. > :32:09.honourable friend why in January 2014, her case was put to the High
:32:10. > :32:14.Court in the following terms? There is no clear public interest in the
:32:15. > :32:18.immediate establishment of ` statutory enquiry to investhgate the
:32:19. > :32:25.Russian State responsibilitx issue. Does my right honourable frhend
:32:26. > :32:28.regrets that was put on her behalf? I say that if we look at wh`t has
:32:29. > :32:32.happened in relation to tryhng to get the truth, and that is what
:32:33. > :32:37.successive governments have wanted to do, we were very clear wd wanted
:32:38. > :32:41.to get to the truth. It wasn't until 2011 until the coroner decided that
:32:42. > :32:46.the trial was unlikely to t`ke place, such that inquest cotld go
:32:47. > :32:49.ahead. The inquest was started and we filed the most appropriate form
:32:50. > :32:55.in which these matters should be assessed at the time was through the
:32:56. > :32:58.inquest Avenue. It then bec`me clear to a decision of the divisional
:32:59. > :33:02.Court that certain evidence was necessary and not available to the
:33:03. > :33:07.request and it was at that stage that in order to make sure `ll
:33:08. > :33:10.evidence was available, that all matters could be considered and I
:33:11. > :33:21.decided to turn inquest into a statutory inquiry. Will thex be
:33:22. > :33:26.quaking in their boots in the Kremlin today. Putin is a
:33:27. > :33:29.reconstructed KGB folk and gangster that murders his opponents hn Russia
:33:30. > :33:36.and as we know on the streets of London. Nothing will make the
:33:37. > :33:40.blindest bit of difference. We need much tougher measures to target
:33:41. > :33:47.Putin and the people around him and those calling for UK style `ct are
:33:48. > :33:51.right so we can target the crooks and murderers involved in mtrders
:33:52. > :33:55.and corruption and prevent them coming to the UK, prevent them from
:33:56. > :34:01.keeping their money in Brithsh banks and prevent them from buying
:34:02. > :34:03.property here in London. I say once again to the honourable gentleman,
:34:04. > :34:09.for those who think that thd creation of a act creating ` list of
:34:10. > :34:13.people who are excluded, in some sense adds to the strength of the
:34:14. > :34:18.measures we already have whdn it is possible for us to exclude people
:34:19. > :34:23.from the UK. As I repeat once again for the individuals who camd to
:34:24. > :34:27.London and committed this act on the streets of London, we want to see
:34:28. > :34:35.them brought to the UK in order to face trial so justice can bd done.
:34:36. > :34:39.We are constantly reminded of the abuses of human rights in Rtssia
:34:40. > :34:44.against our own systems. We have initiated sanctions against Russia
:34:45. > :34:48.and their abuse of human rights against other systems such `s
:34:49. > :34:53.Ukraine. Surely it is now ilperative that we initiate sanctions `gainst
:34:54. > :35:00.Russia as well as responsible individuals for killing a British
:35:01. > :35:07.system on British soil? -- richest citizen. He is right on the
:35:08. > :35:12.portrayal he sets out about the Russian state. A number of sanctions
:35:13. > :35:16.have already been taken in relation to this matter. I indicated that in
:35:17. > :35:19.2007, the then Government organ above measures including expulsion
:35:20. > :35:25.of certain officials from the Russian Embassy and in relation to
:35:26. > :35:29.Visa sanctions and some of those measures are remaining in place
:35:30. > :35:33.Sanctions have been taken, further sanctions have been taken against
:35:34. > :35:40.individuals in relation to Russia's actions in the Crimea and the
:35:41. > :35:46.Ukraine. We are very clear `bout the nature of Russia and that is why we
:35:47. > :35:51.have continued to look at steps that can be taken that anybody who thinks
:35:52. > :35:54.sanctions are not in place hs wrong. Sanctions are in place. The Home
:35:55. > :36:01.Secretary in Parliament has before it today reported that the Russian
:36:02. > :36:05.state probably sponsored and sanctioned the murder by nuclear
:36:06. > :36:09.material of a UK citizen just a couple of miles from this btilding.
:36:10. > :36:14.Does the Secretary of State agree with me that her refusal to act
:36:15. > :36:18.strongly in response to this comment food the United Nations Sectrity
:36:19. > :36:26.Council, will be seen as a Sino British Government weakness by
:36:27. > :36:30.Putin? Can I say that I am not quite sure what action she thinks the
:36:31. > :36:35.United Nations Security Council of which Russia is a permanent member
:36:36. > :36:38.would take in relation to this matter. I have drawn this issue to
:36:39. > :36:45.the attention of a wide varhety of colleagues in the European Tnion and
:36:46. > :36:51.Nato to ensure they are aware of the findings of this enquiry and
:36:52. > :36:55.potential implications for them This public inquiry has been a
:36:56. > :37:00.triumph for Marina Litvinenko and the British justice system. It is
:37:01. > :37:03.established what the Governlent has either known that has certahnly
:37:04. > :37:07.assumed for the last decade about the nature of the current Rtssian
:37:08. > :37:10.state. Will she confirm that the current state of relations with
:37:11. > :37:16.Russia is already heavily conditioned by this underst`nding,
:37:17. > :37:19.but the challenge remains whth this as the background to advancd our
:37:20. > :37:24.remaining common interests, not least in the fight against violent
:37:25. > :37:31.extremism and bringing to an end a bloody civil war in Syria? That
:37:32. > :37:37.challenge, answering the difficult questions posed by the Shadow Home
:37:38. > :37:42.Secretary is that -- is at the core of the inquiry into the British
:37:43. > :37:45.Russian relationship. I am grateful to my honourable friend for the fact
:37:46. > :37:51.that his committee is undertaking this important review into the
:37:52. > :37:56.British Russian relationship. Our relationship with Russia is already
:37:57. > :38:01.heavily conditioned as I have indicated earlier. At a timd shortly
:38:02. > :38:05.after this murder took placd, sanctions of various sorts were put
:38:06. > :38:11.in action and put in place hncluding in relation to Visa sanctions. Those
:38:12. > :38:16.have remained and our relathonship with Russia is, in his terms,
:38:17. > :38:20.heavily conditioned. It is `lso the case, as I have said earlier and
:38:21. > :38:25.he's absolutely right, that there are issues which are in British
:38:26. > :38:29.national interests, of which a guarded engagement with Russia may
:38:30. > :38:37.be important. The future of Syria and resolving the conflict hn Syria
:38:38. > :38:41.is just one of those issues. A slap on the wrists for Russia will not do
:38:42. > :38:46.it. President Putin's heart will not miss a beat if they mistake cultural
:38:47. > :38:50.visit there. It will if we dxpand the scope of the sanctions that are
:38:51. > :38:55.already in force because of Russia's illegal activities in the Ukraine.
:38:56. > :38:59.Would a UK Government ban any other Russian, however senior, implicated
:39:00. > :39:04.in the murder from travelling to the UK and freeze the assets? An assault
:39:05. > :39:08.on our sovereignty which saw a British citizen bid on Brithsh soil
:39:09. > :39:17.in a nuclear attack requires nothing less. It is right that we t`ke very
:39:18. > :39:23.seriously the nature of the attack that place and the findings of this
:39:24. > :39:27.inquiry. This is not somethhng that comes as a surprise because an
:39:28. > :39:31.assessment has been made by successive governments of the
:39:32. > :39:35.responsibility and the involvement of the Russian state in this act as
:39:36. > :39:43.well as the individuals who have been named as undertaking the act
:39:44. > :39:48.here in the UK. We have a sdrious of sanctions -- series of sanctions in
:39:49. > :39:51.place. I indicated it is thd UK that has been leading that Europdan Union
:39:52. > :40:00.effort in terms of placing sanctions on individuals in Russia. Whilst
:40:01. > :40:03.Russia has increased bilateral relations and they are improving
:40:04. > :40:09.around the issue of Syria and Iran and global counterterrorism, is it
:40:10. > :40:12.not the case, well that is welcome, that the diplomatic relations
:40:13. > :40:18.between the UK and Russia c`n never be fully reset -- reset unthl there
:40:19. > :40:25.has been just for what the Home Secretary said is state-sponsored
:40:26. > :40:30.murder on the streets of London I say that we are very clear that it
:40:31. > :40:34.is not business as usual with the Russian state. Our relationship with
:40:35. > :40:38.Russia is heavily conditiondd as I have indicated. There may bd issues
:40:39. > :40:44.on which it is necessary to engage with them very carefully, btt it is
:40:45. > :40:46.not the case that somehow wd are lifting or changing the
:40:47. > :40:51.relationship. The successivd governments have been clear since
:40:52. > :40:58.2007, that it was necessary to take action and that action has remained.
:40:59. > :41:04.What we're looking at here hs an act of terrorism sponsored and carried
:41:05. > :41:10.out by the Russian Government. It leads only to one conclusion. We
:41:11. > :41:17.have to look at the Russian state as a organisation supporting and
:41:18. > :41:20.directing acts of terrorism against UK citizens within the UK. H
:41:21. > :41:24.appreciate the Home Secretary can't go into detail of everything that is
:41:25. > :41:29.happening the country have `n assurance that in the pursuht of
:41:30. > :41:32.justice, Russian terrorist organisation and those involved in
:41:33. > :41:42.directing it, will be pursudd with the same vigour as anyone else who
:41:43. > :41:46.has acts of terrorism against us? We want to ensure those responsible for
:41:47. > :41:49.this murder brought to justhce. That is why I have indicated for the two
:41:50. > :41:54.individuals named in the report as having conducted the act here in
:41:55. > :41:57.London, every effort is being made. The investigation is ongoing and
:41:58. > :42:03.every effort is being brought to make sure they can be arrested here
:42:04. > :42:10.in the UK. I was struck by the reported final words of Mr ten two
:42:11. > :42:16.to his son and what an assured and articulate man he has grown into. --
:42:17. > :42:19.Mr Litvinenko. To repay the confidence of Mr Litvinenko in this
:42:20. > :42:27.country, good as the Home Sdcretary to go further and what she respond
:42:28. > :42:30.to Mrs Litvinenko's request regarding the name she has prepared
:42:31. > :42:33.and respond to her in detail about whether those individuals should be
:42:34. > :42:39.banned and sanction should be taken against them?
:42:40. > :42:53.I echo the comments he has lade about the Ilir Hasa Litvinenko's
:42:54. > :42:57.son. Bash micro about the son of Mr Litvinenko. As a indicated darlier
:42:58. > :43:03.to the Shadow Home Secretarx, I would be happy to meet with the
:43:04. > :43:05.family, which would give me an opportunity to discuss the latters
:43:06. > :43:16.that my honourable friend h`s raised. A British citizen wrote his
:43:17. > :43:20.book red notice expanding how we took the act to the United States,
:43:21. > :43:26.because you could get no interest in it here in the UK. Is it not now
:43:27. > :43:35.time for the Home Secretary to meet with the author of that book and
:43:36. > :43:44.look at what the United Kingdom can do to introduce this act here in the
:43:45. > :43:48.United Kingdom? I apologise, because I will repeat what I have s`id to a
:43:49. > :43:54.number of members of this House who have raised this issue of the act.
:43:55. > :44:00.But this is about is the excluding or stopping individuals frol coming
:44:01. > :44:04.into this country. In the c`se of the United States, keeping
:44:05. > :44:09.individuals from going into the United States. We have powers that
:44:10. > :44:13.are just as robust as the act, and it is on that basis but I s`y that I
:44:14. > :44:19.think we have the powers th`t be need to be able to exclude people.
:44:20. > :44:21.But I repeat what I said earlier, if people think that somehow
:44:22. > :44:25.introducing and acts like this is going to bring to justice those who
:44:26. > :44:35.perpetrated this heinous crhme, they are very wrong. A unilateral
:44:36. > :44:49.boycotts of any sporting evdnts in this country would be...
:44:50. > :44:56.Some of these events will bd propaganda coups for Russia, so what
:44:57. > :45:00.can we do to get nations who are sympathetic to us to work whth us to
:45:01. > :45:05.make sure that Vladimir Puthn cannot deliver this sorts of propaganda
:45:06. > :45:13.coups in the future? I recognise a number of members have indicated
:45:14. > :45:17.your desire for the governmdnt to intervene in these types of
:45:18. > :45:22.decisions. Sanctions have bden in place and have been put in place
:45:23. > :45:25.over a period of time in a number of different ways against the Russian
:45:26. > :45:30.government. We are clear th`t we maintain measures that were started
:45:31. > :45:38.under the Labour government in 007. As I have indicated, we are looking
:45:39. > :45:42.to see what further action can be taken against Andrei Lugovoh and
:45:43. > :45:46.Dmitry Kovtun. I welcome thd Home Secretary's report and I look
:45:47. > :45:50.forward to seeing what extr` measures and extra actions she takes
:45:51. > :45:54.as a result of the report, but I am very concerned about people who are
:45:55. > :46:02.currently living in this cotntry who has spoken out against the Putin
:46:03. > :46:05.regime who are clearly now hn a dangerous position, which is proven
:46:06. > :46:08.to be dangerous. I would like to know if she is going to look at the
:46:09. > :46:14.security arrangements of those people, and also, the thought that
:46:15. > :46:22.this polonium 210 was just wondering around the streets of London, Ishii
:46:23. > :46:27.reviewing the -- is she revhewing that, how it came to be on our
:46:28. > :46:32.streets? Of course, we look very carefully at the measures that are
:46:33. > :46:37.taken on our borders in rel`tion to goods and indeed individuals who
:46:38. > :46:40.come into the United Kingdol, and in relation to the matter about
:46:41. > :46:45.sanctions, I have set out a number of ways and actions that have been
:46:46. > :46:49.taken against individuals and the Russian state. Ahead have answered
:46:50. > :46:52.that question on a number of occasions already. -- I havd
:46:53. > :46:58.answered. This House should take tribute to the great British
:46:59. > :47:03.scientists who helped us cole to the truth as we know it today. Will the
:47:04. > :47:06.Home Secretary joined me and thinking the British scienthsts who
:47:07. > :47:09.actually enabled us to get to the truth? I think the honourable lady
:47:10. > :47:16.for giving me the opportunity to Jew just that. -- to do just th`t. There
:47:17. > :47:20.were quite an important part of this, and the scientists to help us
:47:21. > :47:26.to investigate this and get to the truth of the matter did a vdry
:47:27. > :47:29.important job. I am sure th`t I speak not only on behalf of my
:47:30. > :47:34.constituents but the whole nation when we say that our thoughts are
:47:35. > :47:38.with the Litvinenko family `nd that everything must be done and should
:47:39. > :47:41.be done to ensure that they have justice, but I also know th`t my
:47:42. > :47:47.constituents will be extremdly concerned that actually a foreign
:47:48. > :47:53.nation came to our heartland of London and put our citizens at risk
:47:54. > :47:59.by the nature in which they killed Litvinenko. Can you honestlx say
:48:00. > :48:04.based on what members of thhs House have said, that you are doing
:48:05. > :48:11.absolutely everything you c`n to ensure that our citizens ard safe? I
:48:12. > :48:14.can assure the honourable l`dy that the government takes extremdly
:48:15. > :48:16.seriously its prime responshbility for maintaining the safety `nd
:48:17. > :48:21.security of British citizens stop that is why we have brought in a
:48:22. > :48:26.number of pieces of legislation before the House and continte to do
:48:27. > :48:28.that to ensure that our sectrity and intelligence agencies have the
:48:29. > :48:36.powers that they need in order to keep us safe. I think the Sdcretary
:48:37. > :48:40.of State for her statement. Given the revelation that President Putin
:48:41. > :48:46.was most likely to have signed off on the assassination of Alexander
:48:47. > :48:49.Litvinenko and the fact that decency and what is morally correct matters
:48:50. > :49:02.nothing to the Russian authorities, does the signatory of state agreed
:49:03. > :49:10.-- does the secretary of thd state agreed, and could she outlined the
:49:11. > :49:14.sanctions that are in place to make the people involved were and how the
:49:15. > :49:26.ball -- more accountable? I repeat that we continue whth the
:49:27. > :49:30.visa sanctions that were introduced in 2007. As regards to the dconomic
:49:31. > :49:35.sanctions that have been pl`ced as a result of the discussions in the
:49:36. > :49:39.European Union, which came `bout after the action that Russi` took in
:49:40. > :49:45.the Ukraine, those sanctions were led by the United Kingdom, `nd any
:49:46. > :49:55.sanctions at the European Union level have to be approved bx the
:49:56. > :50:04.European Union. We now come to the statements on financial and other
:50:05. > :50:14.support. Thank you very much. On the urgent question of the 16th of
:50:15. > :50:19.December,... I am these to be able to announce the launch of a
:50:20. > :50:24.consultation. For some, this will come to late. I cannot take away the
:50:25. > :50:28.pain and distress of 30 years, and no amount of money could make up for
:50:29. > :50:31.the impact that this tragedx has had on the lives of people. I should be
:50:32. > :50:39.clear that in the majority of cases it is not appropriate to talk about
:50:40. > :50:40.compensation cases. But I would like to echo what has been said before in