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Widow of Litvinenko calls for further sanctions against Russia Widow of Litvinenko calls for further sanctions against Russia
(7 months later)
The widow of Alexander Litvinenko has called for all Russian intelligence agents to be thrown out of the UK and for further economic sanctions against Moscow, after a public inquiry found that Vladimir Putin and his top spy chief had “probably approved” her husband’s murder.The widow of Alexander Litvinenko has called for all Russian intelligence agents to be thrown out of the UK and for further economic sanctions against Moscow, after a public inquiry found that Vladimir Putin and his top spy chief had “probably approved” her husband’s murder.
Marina Litvinenko said it would be unthinkable for the government to ignore the findings of Sir Robert Owen, whose report into Litvinenko’s 2006 killing was more critical than expected. Owen concluded that two Russian killers – Dmitry Kovtun and Andrei Lugovoi – had carried out the murder “under the direction” of Russia’s FSB spy agency.Marina Litvinenko said it would be unthinkable for the government to ignore the findings of Sir Robert Owen, whose report into Litvinenko’s 2006 killing was more critical than expected. Owen concluded that two Russian killers – Dmitry Kovtun and Andrei Lugovoi – had carried out the murder “under the direction” of Russia’s FSB spy agency.
In a frank letter to David Cameron, Marina Litvinenko called for a firm response. She demanded travel bans and sanctions on at least twelve individuals. The list included Putin, Nikolai Patrushev, the FSB’s boss at the time, and other Russian state entities. She also intends to sue the Russian government in the British courts.In a frank letter to David Cameron, Marina Litvinenko called for a firm response. She demanded travel bans and sanctions on at least twelve individuals. The list included Putin, Nikolai Patrushev, the FSB’s boss at the time, and other Russian state entities. She also intends to sue the Russian government in the British courts.
The home secretary, however, signalled that the government had little appetite for imposing punitive measures on Russia, though she acknowledged that Litvinenko’s murder amounted to a “blatant and unacceptable” breach of international law. The probable involvement of Putin’s Kremlin came as no surprise, Theresa May told the Commons.The home secretary, however, signalled that the government had little appetite for imposing punitive measures on Russia, though she acknowledged that Litvinenko’s murder amounted to a “blatant and unacceptable” breach of international law. The probable involvement of Putin’s Kremlin came as no surprise, Theresa May told the Commons.
May told MPs she would be asking Interpol to issue European arrest warrants for Lugovoi and Kovtun but 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,” she said. “The conclusion that the Russian state was probably involved in the murder is deeply disturbing.”May told MPs she would be asking Interpol to issue European arrest warrants for Lugovoi and Kovtun but 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,” she said. “The conclusion that the Russian state was probably involved in the murder is deeply disturbing.”
Related: The Guardian view on the Litvinenko inquiry: a price must be paid in Moscow | Editorial
However, May added that there was a wider national security interest in retaining a guarded engagement with Russia, including working with Russia to bring about a peace settlement in Syria. 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.However, May added that there was a wider national security interest in retaining a guarded engagement with Russia, including working with Russia to bring about a peace settlement in Syria. 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.
The government’s response also included a Treasury freeze of Lugovoi and Kovtun’s assets. But Litvinenko’s legal team said the gesture was largely symbolic; her lawyer Ben Emmerson said it would be “craven” of the prime minister not to take further action, after what Emmerson dubbed an act of nuclear state terror on the streets of London.The government’s response also included a Treasury freeze of Lugovoi and Kovtun’s assets. But Litvinenko’s legal team said the gesture was largely symbolic; her lawyer Ben Emmerson said it would be “craven” of the prime minister not to take further action, after what Emmerson dubbed an act of nuclear state terror on the streets of London.
Cameron, speaking from the world economic forum in Davos, said the murder was a shocking event but said it was necessary to continue to work with Russia. “Do we at some level have to go on having some sort of relationship with them because we need a solution to the Syria crisis? Yes, we do but we do it with clear eyes and a very cold heart.”Cameron, speaking from the world economic forum in Davos, said the murder was a shocking event but said it was necessary to continue to work with Russia. “Do we at some level have to go on having some sort of relationship with them because we need a solution to the Syria crisis? Yes, we do but we do it with clear eyes and a very cold heart.”
Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s press spokesman, dismissed the inquiry as a “quasi-investigation”. He ridiculed the judge’s use of “probably” and called his report an example of “subtle British humour”.Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s press spokesman, dismissed the inquiry as a “quasi-investigation”. He ridiculed the judge’s use of “probably” and called his report an example of “subtle British humour”.
The foreign office summoned Russia’s ambassador in London, Alexander Yakovenko. Speaking afterwards, the ambassador declared the case a “gross provocation” which would hurt bilateral relations, adding that the inquiry had whitewashed the incompetence of Britain’s spy agencies.The foreign office summoned Russia’s ambassador in London, Alexander Yakovenko. Speaking afterwards, the ambassador declared the case a “gross provocation” which would hurt bilateral relations, adding that the inquiry had whitewashed the incompetence of Britain’s spy agencies.
Lugovoi, who is now an MP with a nationalist political party in Russia, said the inquiry’s findings were absurd. He told Interfax: “The results released today just show London’s anti-Russian position once again; the narrow-mindedness and lack of desire among the British to find the real reason for the death of Litvinenko.”Lugovoi, who is now an MP with a nationalist political party in Russia, said the inquiry’s findings were absurd. He told Interfax: “The results released today just show London’s anti-Russian position once again; the narrow-mindedness and lack of desire among the British to find the real reason for the death of Litvinenko.”
Related: Key findings: who killed Alexander Litvinenko, how and why
Thursday’s report brings to an end a near 10-year saga of high-level international intrigue and cold war-style recrimination. Scotland Yard’s investigation into Litvinenko’s murder was one of the most extensive in British criminal history. Presenting his findings in the high court, Owen said the Metropolitan police had done an “exemplary job”.Thursday’s report brings to an end a near 10-year saga of high-level international intrigue and cold war-style recrimination. Scotland Yard’s investigation into Litvinenko’s murder was one of the most extensive in British criminal history. Presenting his findings in the high court, Owen said the Metropolitan police had done an “exemplary job”.
There were stunned cries of “Yes!” from the public gallery when Owen said that Russia’s president had “probably ordered” Litvinenko’s poisoning. His report – a 328-page book – concluded that Kovtun and Lugovoi had no personal motive for murder. Rather, they were “acting on behalf of others”, using a radioactive poison they barely understood.There were stunned cries of “Yes!” from the public gallery when Owen said that Russia’s president had “probably ordered” Litvinenko’s poisoning. His report – a 328-page book – concluded that Kovtun and Lugovoi had no personal motive for murder. Rather, they were “acting on behalf of others”, using a radioactive poison they barely understood.
Owen’s damning conclusions appear to be grounded on secret evidence heard last year in closed inquiry sessions. At the time of his death Litvinenko was working as a part-time consultant for MI6. The judge said he received a considerable quantity of classified documents, and took “closed” evidence from witnesses, likely to be intelligence agents.Owen’s damning conclusions appear to be grounded on secret evidence heard last year in closed inquiry sessions. At the time of his death Litvinenko was working as a part-time consultant for MI6. The judge said he received a considerable quantity of classified documents, and took “closed” evidence from witnesses, likely to be intelligence agents.
Putin has already ruled out any possibility of extradition in blunt terms. In 2007 the then foreign secretary, David Miliband, expelled four Russian diplomats in protest. Now a deputy in Russia’s Duma, Lugovoi told Interfax the inquiry was “pathetic”. It dispelled, he said, the “myth” of impartial British justice. Kovtun made no comment.Putin has already ruled out any possibility of extradition in blunt terms. In 2007 the then foreign secretary, David Miliband, expelled four Russian diplomats in protest. Now a deputy in Russia’s Duma, Lugovoi told Interfax the inquiry was “pathetic”. It dispelled, he said, the “myth” of impartial British justice. Kovtun made no comment.
The British 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.The British 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 questioning from MPs, May said she would meet the Litvinenko family to discuss their request for imposing sanctions on a much larger group of Russian agents.Under questioning from MPs, May said she would meet the Litvinenko family to discuss their request for imposing sanctions on a much larger group of Russian agents.
Related: Putin's disturbing message for the west: your rules don't apply
The shadow home secretary, Andy Burnham, called for the expulsion of Russian intelligence operatives and a review of whether the UK should press for Russia to be prevented from staging the 2018 football world cup.The shadow home secretary, Andy Burnham, called for the expulsion of Russian intelligence operatives and a review of whether the UK should press for Russia to be prevented from staging the 2018 football world cup.
He said the government’s response did not “go anywhere near enough in answering the seriousness of the findings” and “could send a dangerous signal to Russia that our response is too weak”. He said the report was “one of the most shocking and disturbing reports ever presented to parliament”.He said the government’s response did not “go anywhere near enough in answering the seriousness of the findings” and “could send a dangerous signal to Russia that our response is too weak”. He said the report was “one of the most shocking and disturbing reports ever presented to parliament”.
David Davis, who was shadow home secretary at the time of the murder, said the report meant that in a civil UK court Putin would be found guilty of complicity in murder. He said: “We need to go after the financial assets of Putin in the Bahamas and in Cyprus. Eventually you get to a point when with a dictator you have to draw a line as we did in the 30s.”David Davis, who was shadow home secretary at the time of the murder, said the report meant that in a civil UK court Putin would be found guilty of complicity in murder. He said: “We need to go after the financial assets of Putin in the Bahamas and in Cyprus. Eventually you get to a point when with a dictator you have to draw a line as we did in the 30s.”
In his report, Owen praised Robert Service, a former professor of Russian history at Oxford, who gave expert evidence to the inquiry, including on the links between Putin and the Russian mafia.In his report, Owen praised Robert Service, a former professor of Russian history at Oxford, who gave expert evidence to the inquiry, including on the links between Putin and the Russian mafia.
Speaking from the high court, Service said of the report: “I was gobsmacked ... Anglo-Russian relations are not going to be easy for the next few weeks, years or months.”Speaking from the high court, Service said of the report: “I was gobsmacked ... Anglo-Russian relations are not going to be easy for the next few weeks, years or months.”
He added: “One thing the inquiry shows is the autonomy of the judicial process.”He added: “One thing the inquiry shows is the autonomy of the judicial process.”
Alex Goldfarb, Litvinenko’s friend, who helped him escape from Moscow to Britain in 2000, said he was pleased. “This restores my faith in the word justice,” he said.Alex Goldfarb, Litvinenko’s friend, who helped him escape from Moscow to Britain in 2000, said he was pleased. “This restores my faith in the word justice,” he said.