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| Litvinenko murder 'unacceptable breach of international law' | Litvinenko murder 'unacceptable breach of international law' |
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| The murder of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko was a “blatant and unacceptable” breach of international law, even though the probable involvement of the Putin government came as no surprise, Theresa May has said. | |
| The British home secretary made her comments as she set out a limited number of new measures in response to Thursday’s findings of the inquiry into the 2006 death of the Russian former spy from radioactive poisoning. The measures included the Treasury’s freezing of the assets of two men named as being responsible for the murder. | |
| Related: Alexander Litvinenko murder: UK freezes assets of chief suspects – live | |
| She told MPs in the Commons that she would also be asking Interpol to issue European arrest warrants for Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitri Kovtun, but she proposed no wider action against the Russian state. | She told MPs in the Commons that she would also be asking Interpol to issue European arrest warrants for Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitri Kovtun, but she proposed no wider action against the Russian state. |
| “This was an act of murder that took place in the streets of London and it was state sponsored,” May said. “The conclusion that the Russian state was probably involved in the murder of Litvinenko is deeply disturbing. | |
| “It goes without saying that this was a blatant and unacceptable breach of the most fundamental tenets of international law and of civilised behaviour. | “It goes without saying that this was a blatant and unacceptable breach of the most fundamental tenets of international law and of civilised behaviour. |
| “But we have to accept this does not come as a surprise. The inquiry confirms the assessment of successive governments that this was a state-sponsored act. This assessment has informed the government’s approach to date.” | “But we have to accept this does not come as a surprise. The inquiry confirms the assessment of successive governments that this was a state-sponsored act. This assessment has informed the government’s approach to date.” |
| She said Britain had taken a number of measures in 2007 after the killing, but there was a wider national security interest in retaining a guarded engagement with Russia, including in working with Russia to bring about a peace settlement in Syria. | She said Britain had taken a number of measures in 2007 after the killing, but there was a wider national security interest in retaining a guarded engagement with Russia, including in working with Russia to bring about a peace settlement in Syria. |
| In response to MPs’ criticism of the lack of specific measures imposed on Putin, she pointed out that it was impossible for Britain to seek to impose a travel ban on a head of state, and said Britain had no illusions about the state of Russia. | In response to MPs’ criticism of the lack of specific measures imposed on Putin, she pointed out that it was impossible for Britain to seek to impose a travel ban on a head of state, and said Britain had no illusions about the state of Russia. |
| Related: Litvinenko inquiry: the key players | |
| She faced backbench calls for wider action against the presence of Russian “dirty money” in London, or in British overseas territories, including the Bahamas. | She faced backbench calls for wider action against the presence of Russian “dirty money” in London, or in British overseas territories, including the Bahamas. |
| In other measures she said the government would summon the Russian ambassador to the Foreign Office and ask the director of public prosecutions what could be done to bring the perpetrators to justice, or impose criminal asset freezes. The Russians have already refused to accede to UK extradition requests, but May said she would demand a response. | In other measures she said the government would summon the Russian ambassador to the Foreign Office and ask the director of public prosecutions what could be done to bring the perpetrators to justice, or impose criminal asset freezes. The Russians have already refused to accede to UK extradition requests, but May said she would demand a response. |
| The home secretary said she was writing to UK intelligence agency partners and Nato, emphasising the role of the Russian security service in the Litvinenko case. But she did not propose an end to all relations between Russian and UK intelligence agencies. | |
| Under pressure from MPs, May said she would meet the Litvinenko family to discuss their request for imposing sanctions on a wider set of a Russian agents. | Under pressure from MPs, May said she would meet the Litvinenko family to discuss their request for imposing sanctions on a wider set of a Russian agents. |
| Related: Alexander Litvinenko murder: six questions for the public inquiry | |
| The shadow home secretary, Andy Burnham, called for the expulsion of Russian intelligence agents and a review of whether the UK should press for Russia to be prevented from staging the 2018 World Cup. | The shadow home secretary, Andy Burnham, called for the expulsion of Russian intelligence agents and a review of whether the UK should press for Russia to be prevented from staging the 2018 World Cup. |
| The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “We can’t ignore ... state-sponsored murder on the streets of London, [this] needs a strong diplomatic response.” | The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “We can’t ignore ... state-sponsored murder on the streets of London, [this] needs a strong diplomatic response.” |
| Chris Bryant, the shadow leader of the house, said he “fully understood why Britain wants to engage with Russia – it is a key player in Syria and Iran. But the one thing we know about the murderous kleptomaniac regime in Russia is that it walks all over the weak. Putin has no respect for those that let him do what he wants. | Chris Bryant, the shadow leader of the house, said he “fully understood why Britain wants to engage with Russia – it is a key player in Syria and Iran. But the one thing we know about the murderous kleptomaniac regime in Russia is that it walks all over the weak. Putin has no respect for those that let him do what he wants. |
| “In March 2012 the government declared unanimously it wanted to introduce the Magnitsky Act ensuring no one involved in the murder of [Sergei] Magnitsky, or the corruption that he unveiled, should be able to enter this country. | |
| “The US has such an act. Is it not time we made absolutely clear that Russian murderers are not welcome in this country and the likes of Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitiri Kovtun can only enter the country if they are prepared to stand trial?” | “The US has such an act. Is it not time we made absolutely clear that Russian murderers are not welcome in this country and the likes of Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitiri Kovtun can only enter the country if they are prepared to stand trial?” |
| May repeatedly said the Magnitsky Act would not help bring the agents to justice in the UK, and that she already had the powers to impose travel bans. | May repeatedly said the Magnitsky Act would not help bring the agents to justice in the UK, and that she already had the powers to impose travel bans. |