Menu
23/05/2007
Talks continue over Litvinenko murder
Diplomatic negotiations are continuing between the UK and Russia in an attempt to secure the extradition of a former KGB officer accused of the murder of Alexander Litvinenko.
On Tuesday, the Crown Prosecution Service announced that it has enough evidence to charge Andrey Lugovoy with the murder of Mr Litvinenko.
Sir Ken McDonald, the UK's director of public prosecution, recommended that Mr Lugovoy should be extradited from Russia so that he can be charged with murder in the UK.
Speaking to the Russian-owned Itar-Tass news agency on Tuesday, Mr Lugovoy said that the charges against him were "politically motivated" and insisted that he had nothing to do with Mr Litvinenko's death.
The Russian state prosecutor has also said that Russian citizens could not be extradited to a foreign country, but could be tried in a domestic court, with evidence supplied by the foreign country.
The UK is expected to make the formal submission of its extradition request before the end of the week.
Meanwhile, it has been reported on Sky News that a video in which Alexander Litvinenko is seen with other former KGB officers claiming that their bosses had ordered them to carry out the murders of high-profile Russians, including exiled businessman Boris Berezovsky, has been released.
It is understood that the video, believed to have been recorded in a guesthouse outside Moscow in 1998, contains footage of Mr Litvinenko expressing fears for the safety of his wife and child.
Mr Litvinenko died last November in London after being poisoned with a fatal dose of the radioactive substance polonium 210.
A critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime, Mr Litvinenko was granted political asylum in the UK in 2000.
He fell ill on November 1 and died in University College Hospital in London on November 23.
Suspicion had surrounded Mr Lugovoy and another Russian - Dmitri Kovtun - who met with Mr Litvinenko at the Millennium Hotel in Mayfair on the day he fell ill.
Mr Kovtun has also denied any involvement in Mr Litvinenko's death.
(KMcA/SP)
On Tuesday, the Crown Prosecution Service announced that it has enough evidence to charge Andrey Lugovoy with the murder of Mr Litvinenko.
Sir Ken McDonald, the UK's director of public prosecution, recommended that Mr Lugovoy should be extradited from Russia so that he can be charged with murder in the UK.
Speaking to the Russian-owned Itar-Tass news agency on Tuesday, Mr Lugovoy said that the charges against him were "politically motivated" and insisted that he had nothing to do with Mr Litvinenko's death.
The Russian state prosecutor has also said that Russian citizens could not be extradited to a foreign country, but could be tried in a domestic court, with evidence supplied by the foreign country.
The UK is expected to make the formal submission of its extradition request before the end of the week.
Meanwhile, it has been reported on Sky News that a video in which Alexander Litvinenko is seen with other former KGB officers claiming that their bosses had ordered them to carry out the murders of high-profile Russians, including exiled businessman Boris Berezovsky, has been released.
It is understood that the video, believed to have been recorded in a guesthouse outside Moscow in 1998, contains footage of Mr Litvinenko expressing fears for the safety of his wife and child.
Mr Litvinenko died last November in London after being poisoned with a fatal dose of the radioactive substance polonium 210.
A critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime, Mr Litvinenko was granted political asylum in the UK in 2000.
He fell ill on November 1 and died in University College Hospital in London on November 23.
Suspicion had surrounded Mr Lugovoy and another Russian - Dmitri Kovtun - who met with Mr Litvinenko at the Millennium Hotel in Mayfair on the day he fell ill.
Mr Kovtun has also denied any involvement in Mr Litvinenko's death.
(KMcA/SP)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
08 July 2008
Brown's Stance Praised By Litvinenko Widow
The widow of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko has commended Prime Minister Gordon Brown for "standing firm" on his demand for the extradition of the main suspect in the assassination of the defector. Marina Litvinenko welcomed Mr Brown's continued "firm" calls for the extradition of Andrei Lugovoi, two years after Mr Litvinenko's poisoning.
Brown's Stance Praised By Litvinenko Widow
The widow of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko has commended Prime Minister Gordon Brown for "standing firm" on his demand for the extradition of the main suspect in the assassination of the defector. Marina Litvinenko welcomed Mr Brown's continued "firm" calls for the extradition of Andrei Lugovoi, two years after Mr Litvinenko's poisoning.
01 December 2006
Mystery surrounds former Russian Prime Minister's illness
A former Russian acting Prime Minister Yegor Gaidar is being treated in hospital following what may be some form of poisoning. Mr Gaidar, who was premiere for a time under the Boris Yeltsin regime, fell ill during a visit to Dublin last week and was treated at a Dublin hospital before being moved to Russia.
Mystery surrounds former Russian Prime Minister's illness
A former Russian acting Prime Minister Yegor Gaidar is being treated in hospital following what may be some form of poisoning. Mr Gaidar, who was premiere for a time under the Boris Yeltsin regime, fell ill during a visit to Dublin last week and was treated at a Dublin hospital before being moved to Russia.
22 May 2007
Man faces charge over Litvinenko murder
A Russian man is facing being charged with the murder of former KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko. The Crown Prosecution Service has announced that it has enough evidence to charge Andrey Lugovoy with the murder of Mr Litvinenko and will now seek to have him extradited from Russia so that he can be charged with murder in the UK.
Man faces charge over Litvinenko murder
A Russian man is facing being charged with the murder of former KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko. The Crown Prosecution Service has announced that it has enough evidence to charge Andrey Lugovoy with the murder of Mr Litvinenko and will now seek to have him extradited from Russia so that he can be charged with murder in the UK.
03 April 2007
Campaign launched in memory of Alexander Litvinenko
A campaign has been launched by the widow and friends of murdered former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko in his name. The Litvinenko Justice Foundation aims to put pressure on both the British and Russian governments to find those responsible for Mr Litvinenko's death.
Campaign launched in memory of Alexander Litvinenko
A campaign has been launched by the widow and friends of murdered former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko in his name. The Litvinenko Justice Foundation aims to put pressure on both the British and Russian governments to find those responsible for Mr Litvinenko's death.
16 July 2007
Russian diplomats expelled from UK
The government has announced that four Russian diplomats will be expelled from the country's embassy in London following Moscow's refusal to extradite the main suspect in the murder of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko.
Russian diplomats expelled from UK
The government has announced that four Russian diplomats will be expelled from the country's embassy in London following Moscow's refusal to extradite the main suspect in the murder of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
