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UK judge to rule on Russian involvement in Litvinenko death UK judge: 2 Russians killed ex-agent Litvinenko
(35 minutes later)
LONDON — A British judge is set to release the findings of a lengthy public inquiry into the 2006 poisoning death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko. LONDON — President Vladimir Putin probably approved a plan by Russia’s FSB security service to kill former agent Alexander Litvinenko, a British judge said Thursday.
Judge Robert Owen is expected Thursday to address possible Russian state involvement in the former spy’s death in London. In a lengthy report, Judge Robert Owen said that he is certain Litvinenko was given tea laced with a fatal dose of polonium-210 at a London hotel in November 2006.
Litvinenko, who had become a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died after he was poisoned with polonium-210, an isotope that is deadly if ingested in tiny quantities. He said there is a “strong probability” that the FSB directed the killing, and the operation was “probably approved” by Putin.
Litvinenko, a former FSB agent, fled to Britain in 2000 and became a vocal critic of Russia’s security service and of Putin, whom he accused of links to organized crime.
Owen said Litvinenko “was regarded as having betrayed the FSB” with his actions, and that “there were powerful motives for organizations and individuals within the Russian state to take action against Mr. Litvinenko, including killing him.”
Marina Litvinenko said outside the High Court she was “very pleased that the words my husband spoke on his deathbed when he accused Mr. Putin have been proved by an English court.”
Moscow has always strongly denied involvement in Litvinenko’s death, and Russia refuses to extradite the two main suspects, Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun.
Litvinenko, who had become a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died after he was poisoned with polonium-210, an isotope that is deadly even if ingested in tiny quantities.
He had fled from Russian to Britain in 2000 after breaking with Putin and his inner circle.He had fled from Russian to Britain in 2000 after breaking with Putin and his inner circle.
British police have accused Dmitry Kovtun and Andrei Lugovoi of carrying out the killing, sponsored by elements in the Kremlin. Both deny involvement, and Moscow refuses to extradite them. In his 326-page report, Owen said that based on the evidence he had seen, the operation to kill Litvinenko was “probably” approved by then-FSB head Nikolai Petrushov and by Putin.
The case led to a souring of British ties to Russia. Owen said Litvinenko “had repeatedly targeted President Putin” with “highly personal” public criticism.
The British government appointed Owen to head a public inquiry into the slaying, which soured relations between London and Moscow. He heard from dozens of witnesses during months of public hearings last year, and also saw secret British intelligence evidence.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.