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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 in the UK was "probably" approved by President Vladimir Putin, a public inquiry finds.The murder of ex-Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in 2006 in the UK was "probably" approved by President Vladimir Putin, a public inquiry finds.
Mr Putin is likely to have signed off the poisoning of Mr Litvinenko with polonium-210 in part due to personal "antagonism" between the pair, it said.Mr Putin is likely to have signed off the poisoning of Mr Litvinenko with polonium-210 in part due to personal "antagonism" between the pair, it said.
Mr Litvinenko's widow Marina welcomed the report, calling for a travel ban on Mr Putin and sanctions on Russia. Home Secretary Theresa May said likely state involvement was deeply shocking.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said the inquiry had been "politicised". Mr Litvinenko's widow welcomed the report, but the Russian Foreign Ministry said it was "politicised".
It said: "We regret that the purely criminal case was politicised and overshadowed the general atmosphere of bilateral relations."It said: "We regret that the purely criminal case was politicised and overshadowed the general atmosphere of bilateral relations."
It said the inquiry had "not been transparent", saying it had not expected the process to be unbiased.It said the inquiry had "not been transparent", saying it had not expected the process to be unbiased.
Mr Litvinenko died aged 43 in London in 2006, days after being poisoned with the radioactive substance. He was a former Russian spy but fled to Britain where he became a fierce critic of the Kremlin. Mr Litvinenko died aged 43 in London in 2006, days after drinking tea poisoned with the radioactive substance. 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". Two Russian men, Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun, deliberately poisoned Mr Litvinenko, the report said. They both deny killing him.
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." Giving a statement to the House of Commons, Mrs May said the UK was to impose asset freezes on the two suspects.
International arrest warrants against the two men remained in place, she told MPs.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said the report's conclusions were "extremely disturbing", saying: "It is not the way for any state, let alone a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to behave."
Speaking earlier 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."
In a statement, Mrs Litvinenko urged the UK government to expel all Russian intelligence operatives and impose economic sanctions on Moscow.In a statement, Mrs Litvinenko urged the UK government to expel all Russian intelligence operatives and impose economic sanctions on Moscow.
She added that she still hoped for "final justice" for her husband's killers.
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. Sir Robert said Mr Lugovoi and Mr Kovtun 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, he said: "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.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.
London's Metropolitan Police said the investigation into the "cold and calculated murder" remained ongoing.London's Metropolitan Police said the investigation into the "cold and calculated murder" remained ongoing.
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 caseThe Litvinenko case