Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / ENGLAND
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

18:01 GMT, Sunday, 23 November 2008

'Dismay' at Litvinenko stalemate

Alexander Litvinenko

Justice campaigners say they are disappointed at the lack of progress made in the case of murdered Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko.

On the second anniversary of his death, the Litvinenko Justice Foundation again called for the extradition of prime suspect Andrei Lugovoi, 42.

Former KGB agent Mr Litvinenko, 43, died on 23 November 2006 in London after being poisoned with Polonium-210.

The UK suspects fellow former agent Mr Lugovoi of murder, which he denies.

Mr Litvinenko fell ill shortly after drinking tea during a meeting at a West End hotel with former contacts Mr Lugovoi and Dmitri Kovtun.

The Russian government denies any involvement in his death and has asserted Mr Lugovoi was framed by MI6.

"In essence the situation is in stalemate - it is frustrating for family and friends"
Alex Goldfarb,
Litvinenko friend


In May 2007, the Crown Prosecution Service formally submitted an extradition request to Moscow for Mr Lugovoi to stand trial in the UK.

This remains current, but Russia has so far refused to co-operate, saying it would be against its constitution to do so.

Mr Litvinenko's widow, Marina, has since met British and US government officials in a bid for help but little progress has been made.

She is marking the second anniversary of her husband's death privately.

But the justice foundation, of which she is a founder member, expressed its disappointment in a statement.

'Common crime'

It read: "There has been no progress regarding the extradition to the UK of the prime suspect, Andrei Lugovoi, from the Russian Federation.

"While there is a general consensus that the Russian state was involved, the official line of 'treating it as a common crime' remains in force.

"All evidence collected by the police, including scientific data related to the origins of radioactive Polonium-210, remain classified."

The statement said Mrs Litvinenko's direct appeal to current Russian president Dmitry Medvedev to stop protecting Mr Lugovoi had met no response.

It said her request for a "full and open inquest" was still being considered by the coroner after seven months.

Alex Goldfarb, an associate of Litvinenko and author of a book about his killing, said he was "very disappointed" the case was not developing.

He told BBC News: "We have been campaigning for the government to recognise this was a state-sponsored terrorist attack, but unfortunately the official line continues to be that it was just a normal crime.

"In essence the situation is in stalemate. It is frustrating for family and friends."

A spokeswoman for Scotland Yard said she could not comment on the case.



E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
Russia 'backed Litvinenko murder' (08 Jul 08 |  UK )
Council u-turn on Litvinenko home (09 May 07 |  London )
Row over Litvinenko's radioactive house (26 Apr 07 |  London )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Litvinenko Justice Foundation
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©