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President Putin 'probably' approved Litvinenko murder President Putin 'probably' approved Litvinenko murder
(35 minutes later)
The murder of ex-Russian 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 days after being poisoned with radioactive polonium-210, which he is believed to have drunk in a cup of tea. Mr Putin is likely to have signed off the poisoning of Mr Litvinenko in London, in part due to personal "antagonism" between the pair, it said.
Chairman Sir Robert Owen said it was likely Mr Putin signed off the killing following a long-running feud. Mr Litvinenko's widow Marina welcomed the report, calling for a travel ban on Mr Putin and sanctions on Russia.
Mr Litvinenko's widow Marina said she was "very pleased" with the report. The Russian Foreign Ministry said the inquiry had been "politicised".
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." It said: "We regret that the purely criminal case was politicised and overshadowed the general atmosphere of bilateral relations."
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. It said the inquiry had "not been transparent", saying it had not expected the process be unbiased.
Mr Litvinenko died aged 43 in London in 2006, days after being poisoned with radioactive polonium-210. He was a former Russian spy but fled to Britain where he became a fierce critic of the Kremlin.
Gordon Corera, BBC security correspondent, said there were "audible gasps" inside the court when the conclusion of the report was revealed, adding it had been "stronger than expected".
Speaking outside London's High Court, Mrs Litvinenko 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 take action, urging the government to expel all Russian intelligence operatives and impose economic sanctions on Moscow.
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.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.
Litvinenko inquiry reaction: Latest updatesLitvinenko inquiry reaction: Latest updates
Long road to the truth for Litvinenko familyLong road to the truth for Litvinenko family
Who was Alexander Litvinenko?Who was Alexander Litvinenko?
A deadly trail of poloniumA deadly trail of polonium
Two Russian men, Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun, have been accused of Mr Litvinenko's murder. They both deny killing him.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.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."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.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."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.""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."
Mr Kovtun, now a businessman in Russia, said he would not comment on the report until he got more information about its contents, Interfax reported.
Motives for actionMotives 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.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.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.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.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."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 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".The inquiry heard evidence that Mr Litvinenko may have been consigned to a slow death from radiation to "send a message".
The Litvinenko case