The Litvinenko Inquiry

The Litvinenko Inquiry
6.332 In the early evening of 1 November, the entire group went to eat at a steakhouse in
Coventry Street. After the meal, Mr Kovtun returned to the hotel whilst the others went
to watch the match at the Emirates Stadium. Following the match, the group returned
to the Millennium Hotel. DI Mascall explained that the Coventry Street steakhouse
was not tested for radiation: due to a mix-up, two other steakhouses were tested
instead. The Emirates Stadium was, however, tested and secondary contamination
was found in a block of seats that matched the evidence that had been obtained as to
the tickets purchased for Mr Lugovoy’s group. 312
6.333 The telephone schedule shows a number of calls between Mr Lugovoy and
Mr Litvinenko on 2 November 2006. Several of the calls in the morning would appear
to relate to Mr Litvinenko informing Mr Lugovoy of his illness and the meeting with
Mr Quirke being cancelled. There was also a call in the afternoon and a further call in
the evening. 313
6.334 Mr Lugovoy and his entire party, including Mr Kovtun, flew back to Moscow on the
following day, Friday 3 November. They flew from Heathrow on BA flight BA874, which
took off shortly after midday. The aircraft making the flight that day was G-BZHA.
When it was tested for radiation, low levels of secondary contamination were found in
the seats in row 27 where Tatiana Lugovoya had sat with her boyfriend Maxim Begak.
Considerably higher readings were associated with row 16, where Mr Lugovoy,
Mr Kovtun and Mr Sokolenko had sat together. The highest reading was taken on
seat 16F, which was Mr Kovtun’s seat. 314
312
Mascall 16/211-219
313
INQ020044 (page 6)
314
Mascall 17/82-87
180