§ Lord Bethellasked Her Majesty's Government:
What help the Metropolitan Police have received from the Russian Government in their inquiries into the murder of Georgi Markov on Waterloo Bridge in 1978, and when representatives of the Metropolitan Police plan to visit Russia in pursuit of these inquiries.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey)My Lords, the Russian Government remain aware of our concerns on this question. We are still pressing the Russians for a reply to the Metropolitan Police's most recent request for information. The Metropolitan Police have no plans to visit Russia while this request remains outstanding.
§ Lord BethellMy Lords, does my noble friend remember saying in reply to a similar Question on 26th January 1994 that the Russian Government had promised to co-operate over the investigation and had indicated that they would allow Metropolitan Police officers to interview witnesses in Moscow under their supervision? Can my noble friend say where this leaves us now? Does she feel that the Russian Government have gone back on the indications that they gave a year 2 ago or is it her impression that the Russians simply want to sweep the matter under the carpet? What is she now considering doing about it?
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyMy Lords, only the Russians can answer my noble friend's question. We have asked them for an explanation of why it is taking so long. In August 1994 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow circulated our questions and representations to all government departments. We made further representations to the Russians again last month, just as we did throughout the whole of last year. I cannot tell my noble friend for certain at the moment whether the Russians are seeking to avoid responding, but unless a positive response to the requests that we have been making is soon forthcoming, we may have to raise the level at which we make representations.
§ Lord Harris of GreenwichMy Lords, can the Minister tell us on what date the Metropolitan Police asked for that information from the Russians?
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyMy Lords, as far as I can recall, it was in January or February of last year. When I answered my noble friend's Question at the beginning of the year we were confident that the Russians were going to respond. We cannot now be so confident despite the fact that further representations have been made and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has circulated the request of the Metropolitan Police to other government departments.
§ Lord BethellMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that in the meantime the Metropolitan Police anti-terrorist squad has compiled a list of 15 names of previous, and some present, KGB agents in Russia they would like to interview on this question?
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyMy Lords, I am aware that the Metropolitan Police have compiled a list of such people. We have asked the Russians to establish the whereabouts of those persons and whether or not they will willingly talk to the police.