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Litvinenko 'a traitor' - ex-boss | Litvinenko 'a traitor' - ex-boss |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The boss of the former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko says he was a traitor who would have been sentenced to death in Soviet times. | The boss of the former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko says he was a traitor who would have been sentenced to death in Soviet times. |
Alexander Gusak called him a "direct traitor" for betraying other Russian agents to British intelligence. | Alexander Gusak called him a "direct traitor" for betraying other Russian agents to British intelligence. |
Mr Litvinenko, 43, who was a vehement critic of Russian president Vladimir Putin, died on 23 November after being poisoned by radioactive polonium-210. | |
His friends claim the Kremlin ordered his assassination - Moscow denies this. | His friends claim the Kremlin ordered his assassination - Moscow denies this. |
Mr Gusak, a former head of the FSB, the successor to the KGB, has now retired and works as a lawyer. In an interview for BBC's Newsnight, he was asked if the spy deserved to die. | Mr Gusak, a former head of the FSB, the successor to the KGB, has now retired and works as a lawyer. In an interview for BBC's Newsnight, he was asked if the spy deserved to die. |
He said: "I consider him a direct traitor because he betrayed what is most sacred for any operative - his operational sources. | He said: "I consider him a direct traitor because he betrayed what is most sacred for any operative - his operational sources. |
"For that - and I speak as a lawyer - what Litvinenko did comes under article 275 of the criminal code. It's called treason. And there are sanctions; prescribed punishments. Up to 20 years in prison. But that's in accordance with the law." One of them did say: 'Listen, he's done you so much wrong - shall I bring you his head?' Alexander Gusak | "For that - and I speak as a lawyer - what Litvinenko did comes under article 275 of the criminal code. It's called treason. And there are sanctions; prescribed punishments. Up to 20 years in prison. But that's in accordance with the law." One of them did say: 'Listen, he's done you so much wrong - shall I bring you his head?' Alexander Gusak |
He said under the previous regime, Mr Litvinenko would have been executed. | He said under the previous regime, Mr Litvinenko would have been executed. |
"I was brought up on Soviet law. That provides for the death penalty for treason - article 64. I think if in Soviet times he had come back to the USSR he would have been sentenced to death." | "I was brought up on Soviet law. That provides for the death penalty for treason - article 64. I think if in Soviet times he had come back to the USSR he would have been sentenced to death." |
Mr Gusak said one of the agents who believed he had been exposed by Mr Litvinenko offered to assassinate the former spy. | Mr Gusak said one of the agents who believed he had been exposed by Mr Litvinenko offered to assassinate the former spy. |
He said: "I didn't advise any of them to go and kill Litvinenko, though one of them did say: 'Listen, he's done you so much wrong - shall I bring you his head?'" | He said: "I didn't advise any of them to go and kill Litvinenko, though one of them did say: 'Listen, he's done you so much wrong - shall I bring you his head?'" |
The ex-spymaster also confirmed claims made by Mr Litvinenko of a plan to kill the Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky in 1997. The plot was later exposed by Mr Litvinenko at a London press conference. | The ex-spymaster also confirmed claims made by Mr Litvinenko of a plan to kill the Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky in 1997. The plot was later exposed by Mr Litvinenko at a London press conference. |
Before his death Mr Litvinenko accused the Russian president Vladimir Putin of ordering his murder. | Before his death Mr Litvinenko accused the Russian president Vladimir Putin of ordering his murder. |
Police sources have told the BBC that the "most likely poisoner" was Andrei Lugovoi, who met Mr Litvinenko in London on the day he fell ill. | Police sources have told the BBC that the "most likely poisoner" was Andrei Lugovoi, who met Mr Litvinenko in London on the day he fell ill. |
Mr Lugovoi accused the British media of "lies" and said he should be regarded as a witness and not a suspect. Scotland Yard has handed a file on its investigation to the Crown Prosecution Service. | Mr Lugovoi accused the British media of "lies" and said he should be regarded as a witness and not a suspect. Scotland Yard has handed a file on its investigation to the Crown Prosecution Service. |
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