Alexander Litvinenko murder: public inquiry to be held - July 21, 2014 - A public inquiry will be held in to the death of poisoned Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko Theresa May, the Home Secretary, will announce on Tuesday. The Government decision means the formal investigation in to his death will be able to examine whether the Russian state was behind his murder. The decision is another blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin at a time when he is already under intense international pressure in the wake of the Malaysia airlines atrocity.