Correspondence between his lawyers and the Home Office show Mr Litvinenko felt that being granted asylum in the UK meant he was safe from attack by Russia. This was despite being aware he had been “sentenced to extrajudicial elimination” after working on a book that had accused the Russian secret services of staging acts of terrorism to bring Vladimir Putin to power. A Home Office letter in reply also reveals it took no action after being alerted to the plot to assassinate him.

It said the then government could not take the matter up with the Russain embassy.

Litvinenko’s confidence in the UK is revealed in letters between his lawyers Seymour Menzies Solicitors and the Home Office.

One letter sent in October 2002, after his successful asylum application, made the Home Office aware of the threat to his life.

It said in May 2001 Litvinenko was warned by a Russian lawyer with contacts in the FSB Russian security agency that he would be killed because of the book.

The assassins were not identified, but it was said they were in place.

However, the letter added: “Our client does not consider that there is likely to be any substance behind this threat.

“That is to say, he considers that while he stays in the United Kingdom, it is extremely unlikely that the ‘sentence’ as described would be carried out. However, given the nature of the threat, we felt it proper to draw this matter to your attention and to invite you to remind the Russian Embassy in London of the attitude of Her Majesty’s Government to the contemplation, let alone the carrying out, of such actions.”

It also asked for advice from the Home Office about the threat.

It added: “Your advice in this regard would be appreciated.”

The Home Office took nearly a month to reply. It said: “The Home Office has no remit to intervene with the Russian Embassy in such matters. However, it is open to Mr Litvinenko to report any threats to the Metropolitan Police, who may also be able to advise him regarding personal safety.”

Litvinenko met with two former Russian agents, Dmitry Kovtun and Andrei Lugovoy, on November 1, 2006, before suddenly becoming ill.

He was hospitalised with poisoning by radioactive polonium-210, dying on November 23.

A Metropolitan Police murder investigation said Lugovoy, a former member of Russia’s Federal Protective Service, was the prime suspect in Mr Litvinenko’s death. Russia continues to refuse to extradite him.

It has not been revealed whether Mr Litvinenko did in fact go to police.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said it could not comment before going through the files of the murder investigation, which remains ongoing.

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