Russians deny poison spy 'lies'

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The two Russian businessmen questioned by British police over the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko have denied being suspects in the case.

Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun told a Russian TV station that UK press reports describing them as suspects were "a lie".

Mr Litvinenko died on 23 November in London after being exposed to the radioactive isotope polonium-210.

The former Russian spy had met the men hours before falling ill.

Detectives from Scotland Yard travelled to Moscow to interview the two men. In their first joint TV interview they told Russia Today they were witnesses, not suspects.

Mr Lugovoi denied press allegations that he is the prime suspect. "They are not simply unfounded, they are a lie. Pure and simple. I was, and still am, a witness in this case."

Never say never Andrei Lugovoi

He insisted the British detectives never treated him as a suspect. "They stressed that I am a witness, and no announcement has been made about any change in my status ever since... all the rest is a lie."

Mr Lugovoi and Mr Kovtun, both businessmen and former members of the Russian security services, were taken to hospital with suspected radiation poisoning in December.

In the interview they said their health is satisfactory, but declined to give details.

Dmitry Kovtun would not rule out travelling back to London to help with the investigation.

"We will think about this. I'm not ready to give any answer.

"It will depend on where the investigation gets, on what we will be accused of and whether we will be charged at all.

"We will consult our lawyers and we will take the decision," he said.

Dmitry Kovtun was also at the meeting with Alexander Litvinenko

Andrei Lugovoi also refused to say whether he would return to the UK. "Like one of my friends says, never say never"

Any suspect is unlikely to be transferred to the UK, as it is against Russia's constitution to extradite its own citizens.

Meanwhile, the Russian interior ministry has denied reports that its special forces used an image of Alexander Litvinenko for target practice.

It says the pictures, obtained by Polish TV, show a private security firm conducting a training session.

The images appear to show a picture of Mr Litvinenko being used as a target.