‘Putin murdered Litvinenko’ – Poisoned spy's widow could sue Russia over his death

ALEXANDER Litvinenko's wife is considering suing Russia for damages after it emerged Vladimir Putin ‘probably’ ordered his death.

Marina Litvinenko said she was “very proud of British justice” and thinks the steps the British Government is taking are adequate, including asset freezes on the two main suspects.

 

Speaking to the BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme she was asked whether she’d consider suing.

She replied: “I agree with my QC, it’s the only way to go.”

Russia has always refused to extradite the two men accused of killing the former Russian spy so this morning the Home Secretary announced international arrest warrants have been issued for both Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun.

Addressing the House of Commons, the Home Secretary said the findings of a report into the former spy’s death, who was poisoned in London in 2006, were “deeply disturbing”.

Mrs May said as well as Interpol notices and European Arrest Warrants for the suspects, the UK will be imposing asset freezes on the two suspects.

David Cameron says he found the report into Litvinenko’s death “extremely disturbing”, and added “it is not a way for any state to behave”.

The 44-year-old died after being poisoned with radioactive polonium-210, which he is thought to have drunk in a cup of tea.

Judge Robert Owen, leading the inquiry, claims Lugovoi and Kovtun were probably told by Moscow's FSB intelligence to poison the ex-spy at London's Millenium Hotel in Mayfair.

He points out a number of reasons the Russian state would have targeted Litvinenko, including disclosures he made about FSB activity before leaving Russia.

His relationship with British intelligence and a "personal dimension" to the long-running feud between Litvinenko and Putin is thought to give further reason for the state's involvement.

Russia hit back at the findings, claiming the British Government has "politicised" the case.

The Russian Foreign Ministry called the inquiry "biased and opaque" and says it has "clouded bilateral relations with the UK".

Maria Zakharova, its director of press, gave a statement this afternoon saying: “[The] UK authorities create a dangerous precedent when they use their domestic legal system in a politically laden investigation.

“It is no surprise that the launch of a public inquiry into Litvinenko’s death coincided with the flaring of tensions in Ukraine.

“Russia more than once called for an objective and unbiased investigation into the causes of the Russians’ deaths in the UK.”

But Theresa May said in her statement to MPs Sir Robert’s investigation was “detailed, thorough and impartial”.

Mrs May said she “takes the findings extremely seriously” adding: “In particular the conclusion that the Russian state was probably involved is deeply disturbing.”

She called it a “blatantly unacceptable breach of fundamental tenets of international law”.

Confirming the Met’s continuing investigation she said called Russia’s continued refusal to agree to extradition requests “unacceptable”, and had contacted the Director of Public Prosecutions to see if anything else could be done.

On top of that she said they were “making senior representations” to the Russian Government and would be summoning the Russian ambassador to the Foreign Office.

“Specifically we will continue to demand for information about the role of the FSB in this case”, the Home Secretary added.

Mrs May also paid tribute to the tireless work of Litvinenko’s widow Marina, and said she hoped the “findings provide clarity for his family, friends and all those affected by his death.”

In response Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary Andy Burnham called it an “unparalleled act of state-sponsored terrorism”.

He said it was “one of the most shocking reports” he had ever read, and urged the Government to consider expelling all FSB officers immediately from the UK.

Mr Burnham also said it “beggars belief” that one of the suspects, Lugovoi, is now a leading member of the Russian Parliament.

He also inquired as to whether now Russia should still be able to host the World Cup in 2018.

Boris Johsnon said we "can't 'ignore ...state sponsored murder on the streets of London", adding the report needs "a strong diplomatic response".

Sir Robert Owen’s report concluded that the FSB operation to kill Litvinenko was “probably approved by Mr Patrushev and also by President Putin”.

But Andrei Lugovoi described the accusations against him as "absurd", saying: "As we expected, there were no surprises.

“The results of the investigation made public today yet again confirm London's anti-Russian position, its blinkeredness and the unwillingness of the English to establish the true reason of Litvinenko's death."

Alexander Goldfarb, who was a friend of Mr Litvinenko and is head of the Litvinenko Justice Foundation, said Britain should impose sanctions on Russia over the killing.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme: "I think the British Government should go to the security council and demand a resolution to censure Russia, to have Russia accept responsibility and pay compensation to the victims.

“I want the British Government to announce sanctions, particularly sanctions against the Russian atomic enterprises who willingly provided the murder weapon."

Litvinenko's widow Marina said outside the High Court she was "very pleased the words my husband spoke on his deathbed when he accused Mr Putin have been proved by an English court".

She seconded Goldfarb's calls for UK intervention, adding: "I am calling immediately for the expulsion from the UK of all Russian intelligence operatives, whether from the FSB (who murdered Sasha) or from other Russian agencies based in the London embassy."

Both suspects deny killing Mr Litvinenko.

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