Russians are paying Litvinenko suspect's legal fees, says widow... as she admits for the first time: My husband was British spy

By Robert Verkaik for The Mail on Sunday
Updated: 19:06 EDT, 15 October 2011

Appeal: Marina Litvinenko claims Russia funding a team of top British lawyers for her husband's murder suspect

The Russian government is funding a team of top British lawyers to represent the prime suspect at the inquiry into the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, his widow has claimed.

The allegation follows the decision by a coroner to allow Andrei Lugovoi to give evidence at the inquest into the polonium poisoning of Mr Litvinenko in November 2006.

Although Lugovoi has refused to come to Britain to stand trial for murder, he will use a video link to speak at the inquest.

Marina Litvinenko described her husband’s alleged killer as ‘an agent of the Russian state’ who will be fully supported by the Kremlin.

Last night, she appealed for public funds to match Russia’s resources.

Lugovoi, now a member of the Russian parliament, has appointed a team of top barristers and solicitors to represent him at the inquest, which is expected to last several months.

Mrs Litvinenko said: ‘The evidence collected by the police will be weighed against the story presented by [Mr Litvinenko’s] accused murderer and his sponsors, with the unlimited resources of the Russian state at their disposal.’

She added: ‘Compared to my adversaries, I am severely constrained. This I why I am appealing to the public for help.’

Poisoned: Alexander Litvinenko at London's University College Hospital shortly before his death in 2006

Lugovoi is being represented by Jessica Simor, a leading human rights barrister who works with Cherie Booth QC at Matrix Chambers. Ms Simor is instructed by City law firm McGrigors.

During the inquest, Lugovoi will ask the coroner to explore his  claim that Mr Litvinenko, a former Russian intelligence officer who sought asylum in the UK, committed suicide or was murdered by MI6. The claim has been dismissed by Mr Litvinenko’s widow, police and the Crown Prosecution Service.

Mrs Litvinenko confirmed for the first time that her husband had worked for the Security Service MI5, and Intelligence Service MI6, and that he was paid tens of thousands of pounds for his help.

She previously denied this out of loyalty to her husband, but now wants the inquiry to investigate all events leading up to what she calls a ‘Russian state-sponsored execution’.

She said: ‘He worked as a consultant for them over a year in an operation to combat Russian organised crime in Europe.’

She added: ‘He didn’t tell me about every meeting with MI6, but said he was helping them.’

The extent of Mr Litvinenko’s role with MI5 and MI6 will be examined at the inquest. The hearing will also consider whether agents were in a position to prevent his death.

Mr Litvinenko, 43, fell ill shortly after drinking tea during a meeting at a London hotel with former KGB contacts and died at University College Hospital. On the day of the poisoning he met Andrei Lugovoi and businessman Dmitri Kovtun. All three men left radiation trails all over London. On the question of funding, the Russian government said: ‘Lugovoi is involved in this process in a personal capacity.’

McGrigors declined to discuss who was paying Lugovoi’s legal bill because of client confidentiality.