A British judge investigating the killing of ex-KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko has given one of the men suspected of involvement in his death a final chance to testify.
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However, in communications to the inquiry, Russia’s ICRF (Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation) said that Kovtun was the only person who can apply to be discharged from the duty.
He had been due to appear before the inquiry into the death via video link from Moscow to give evidence, however, he reversed his decision to do so for the second time this year.
He gave Kovtun a deadline of Tuesday at 9 a.m. (0800 GMT) to agree to give evidence.
Addressing the chairman, he added: “We endorse your view that there should be no place for Mr Kovtun and his masters in the Kremlin to hide behind procedural limitations as an excuse”.
Three days were set aside for his evidence but it emerged last week that he fears he may be committing an offence under Russian law if he gives evidence.
He is believed to have been poisoned at a meeting in London with Kovtun and a Russian associate, Andrei Lugovoi. Russian Federation has, however, refused to extradite them.
Dmitri Kovtun, a Russian businessman, is accused of spiking Mr Litvinenko’s drink with a radioactive substance in a London hotel in 2006.
Mr Tam said it was “curious” that some of these issues had not been raised at a earlier stage.
He also said the ICRF had tried to limit what Kovtun could have testified about, which Owen said was an unacceptable attempt to “restrict and distort” evidence.
Less than two hours before the hearing, at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Mr Kovtun told the BBC in Moscow that he would not be giving evidence.
Richard Horwell QC, for the Metropolitan Police, said: “It is very odd indeed that notwithstanding the purported signing of a non-disclosure agreement, and an obligation of confidentiality to the Russian investigators, Kovtun has no problem speaking to journalists”.
He has been accused of only offering to take part in the proceedings so he could get access to all the documents that form part of the judge-led inquiry.
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Mr Litvinenko, 43, had been an officer with the Federal Security Service – the successor to the KGB – but fled to Britain where he became a UK citizen and a fierce critic of the Kremlin.
