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Putin 'probably' behind Litvinenko murder President Putin 'probably' approved Litvinenko murder
(35 minutes later)
The murder of former spy Alexander Litvinenko in 2006 was "probably" approved by President Vladimir Putin, a public inquiry has concluded. The murder of ex-Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in 2006 was "probably" approved by President Vladimir Putin, a public inquiry has concluded.
Mr Litvinenko died aged 43 in London in 2006, days after being poisoned with radioactive polonium-210, which he is believed to have drunk in a cup of tea. Mr Litvinenko died aged 43 in London days after being poisoned with radioactive polonium-210, which he is believed to have drunk in a cup of tea.
A public inquiry into his death began in January 2015.
Chairman Sir Robert Owen said it was likely Mr Putin signed off the killing following a long-running feud.Chairman Sir Robert Owen said it was likely Mr Putin signed off the killing following a long-running feud.
Follow live updates on the report here. Mr Litvinenko's widow Marina said she was "very pleased" with the report.
Speaking outside London's High Court, she said: "The words my husband spoke on his deathbed when he accused Mr Putin have been proved by an English court."
Mrs Litvinenko called on the UK to expel all Russian intelligence operatives, to impose economic sanctions, and for travel bans on individuals, including Mr Putin.
Home Secretary Theresa May is due to give the UK government's response to the findings in a statement to the House of Commons later.
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Two Russian men, Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun, have been accused of Mr Litvinenko's murder. They both deny killing him.
Sir Robert said the two suspects were probably acting under the direction of Moscow's FSB intelligence service.
Singling out then-FSB chief Nikolai Patrushev, alongside Mr Putin, Sir Robert wrote in the 300 page report: "Taking full account of all the evidence and analysis available to me I find that the FSB operation to kill Litvinenko was probably approved by Mr Patrushev and also by President Putin."
Responding to the report, Mr Lugovoi, who is now a politician in Russia, said the accusations against him were "absurd", the Russian news agency Interfax was quoted as saying.
"As we expected, there were no surprises," he said.
"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."
Motives for action
Publishing his long-awaited report, Sir Robert said he was "sure" Mr Litvinenko's murder had been carried out by Mr Lugovoy and Mr Kovtun.
Both are wanted in the UK for questioning, but Russia has refused to extradite them.
Sir Robert said Mr Litvinenko's work for British intelligence agencies, his criticism of the FSB and Mr Putin, and his association with other Russian dissidents were possible motives for his killing.
There was "undoubtedly a personal dimension to the antagonism" between Mr Putin and Mr Litvinenko, he added.
"I am satisfied that in general terms, members of the Putin administration, including the president himself and the FSB, had motives for taking action against Litvinenko, including killing him, in late 2006," Sir Robert wrote.
The use of polonium 210 was "at the very least a strong indicator of state involvement" as it had to be made in a nuclear reactor, the report said.
The inquiry heard evidence that Mr Litvinenko may have been consigned to a slow death from radiation to "send a message".