Litvinenko Public Inquiry: Why Announce It Now?

Key Dates Leading Up To Litvinenko Inquiry

Updated: 12:08pm UK, Tuesday 22 July 2014

A public inquiry into the death of poisoned Russian ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko has been announced by the Government.

Here are the key events leading up to the announcement.

:: October 2000 - Alexander Litvinenko and his family flee Russia, despite an order telling him not to leave Moscow.

:: November 2000 - the former spy asks for asylum at Heathrow Airport.

:: May 14, 2001 - the UK grants him political asylum.

:: November 1, 2006 - Mr Litvinenko is taken ill after having tea with former agents Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitri Kovtun at a hotel in London.

:: November 23, 2006 - the ex-KGB officer dies of poisoning by radioactive polonium-210.

:: May 22, 2007 - Director of Public Prosecutions Ken Macdonald decides there is enough evidence to charge prime suspect Mr Lugovoi over Mr Litvinenko's death - he subsequently denied involvement, accusing Mr Litvinenko of being a British spy.

:: July 2007 - Russia refuses to extradite Mr Lugovoi on the grounds that it is against the Russian constitution to extradite someone without firm evidence.

:: October 2011 - A London coroner announces there will be an inquest into Mr Litvinenko's death, with a High Court judge looking at all the evidence, including the various murder theories.

:: May/June 2013 - The inquest is put on hold as the coroner says a public inquiry would be better.

:: July 2013 - The British Government rules out public inquiry.

:: February 2014 - Mr Litvinenko's widow, Marina, wins a seven-year fight to force a public inquiry when the High Court backs her case.

:: July 22, 2014 - Home Secretary Theresa May announces a public inquiry is to be held, saying she "hopes it will be of some comfort to his widow".