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Russia blocks UK extradition plea | Russia blocks UK extradition plea |
(40 minutes later) | |
Russia has officially refused a UK extradition request for Andrei Lugovoi, the prime suspect in the murder of Russian ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko. | Russia has officially refused a UK extradition request for Andrei Lugovoi, the prime suspect in the murder of Russian ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko. |
The Russian Prosecutor General's Office said the constitution did not allow for the extradition of its citizens. | The Russian Prosecutor General's Office said the constitution did not allow for the extradition of its citizens. |
However, it said it would consider the possibility that Mr Lugovoi could be put on trial in Russia. | |
UK-Russian relations have been strained since Mr Litvinenko died of exposure to the radioactive isotope polonium-210. | UK-Russian relations have been strained since Mr Litvinenko died of exposure to the radioactive isotope polonium-210. |
UK officials have said they expect full co-operation from the Russian authorities in bringing the perpetrators to justice in Britain. | |
Inquiry 'possible' | |
It has taken Russia five weeks to give an official response, although Prosecutor General Yuri Chayka has repeatedly said that no Russian national would stand trial in Britain. | |
However, a statement from his office said Mr Lugovoi could be investigated "if the British side makes the corresponding inquiry and offers the necessary material for a criminal case". | |
Mr Lugovoi, himself a former Russian agent, denies the charges against him, and last month accused British secret services of being involved in the murder. | |
He says that either MI6, fugitive Kremlin opponent Boris Berezovsky or the Russian mafia were behind the killing. | |
The Russian Federal Security Service said last month that a criminal case had been opened based on remarks and information provided by Mr Lugovoi. |
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