Cloak & daggerKremlin behind London killing of Putin critic: Inquiry commission
A public commission looking into the 2006 murder in London of Alexander Litvinenko, a former KGB agent who turned into a vociferous critic of Vladimir Putin, has concluded that his poisoning by radioactive materials was ordered by the Kremlin. Russian agents who met with him in November 2006 dropped a small amount of Polonium-210 into the cup of green tea he was drinking. He died three weeks later.
The grave of Alexander Livtinenko // Source: JohnArmagh via commons.wikimedia.com
A public commission looking into the murder in London of Alexander Litvinenko, a former KGB agent who turned into a vociferous critic of Vladimir Putin, has concluded that his poisoning by radioactive materials was ordered by the Kremlin. The conclusion is likely to complicate the efforts by the U.K. government to gain Russia’s cooperation in fighting ISIS, resolving the Syrian war and de-escalating the tensions in eastern Ukraine.
The Washington Post reports that agovernment source told theDaily Telegraph that the public inquiry’s report would show the Russian government wanted Litvinenko dead.
“There will be a clear line of command. It will be very clear that the orders came from the Kremlin, that it was ordered by the government,” the source said.
Another insider familiar with the commission’s work warned: “The findings will place the U.K. in a difficult position given our relations with Russia in current international events.”
Informed sources said the British government is now expected again to demand that the two main suspects, Andrey Lugovoy and Dmitry Kovtun, be extradited to the United Kingdom.
In November 2006 Litvinenko, 43, met with the two Russian agents at the Millennium Hotel. While one of them distracted him, the other dropped a small amount of Polonium-210 into the cup of green tea he was drinking. He died three weeks later.
Sir Robert Owen, a retired judge who chaired the public inquiry, will release the commission’s report today (Thursday).
Lib-Dem Party leader Tim Farron said: “If the Russian state is found to be behind this, we cannot just put out a few strong words drafted by a diplomat in the Foreign Office, we must act.
“The brutal murder of Litvinenko in 2006 exposed the cruel reality of a Russian state which continues to the cold-war pursuits of espionage and extra-judicial killing.
“By poisoning one of their own on British soil, the Russian government completely disregarded the rule of law both within the U.K. and internationally.”
