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Ex-spy dismisses Litvinenko probe | Ex-spy dismisses Litvinenko probe |
(20 minutes later) | |
Andrei Lugovoi, the focus of the UK probe into the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, has laughed off reports London may soon seek his extradition. | Andrei Lugovoi, the focus of the UK probe into the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, has laughed off reports London may soon seek his extradition. |
He told the BBC he had not read the Guardian report saying Scotland Yard had allegedly collected enough evidence for him to stand trial in the UK. | He told the BBC he had not read the Guardian report saying Scotland Yard had allegedly collected enough evidence for him to stand trial in the UK. |
The former KGB officer has persistently denied any involvement in the murder. | The former KGB officer has persistently denied any involvement in the murder. |
Mr Litvinenko died on 23 November in London after taking a fatal dose of the radioactive isotope polonium-210. | Mr Litvinenko died on 23 November in London after taking a fatal dose of the radioactive isotope polonium-210. |
London meeting | London meeting |
The latest allegations to emerge from London have prompted Mr Lugovoi to speak once again to the media after weeks of silence. | The latest allegations to emerge from London have prompted Mr Lugovoi to speak once again to the media after weeks of silence. |
But he had little to say, refusing to comment on the possibility of being extradited to Britain or that he could be swapped with the London-based Russian exile Boris Berezovsky, a leading opponent of President Vladimir Putin. | But he had little to say, refusing to comment on the possibility of being extradited to Britain or that he could be swapped with the London-based Russian exile Boris Berezovsky, a leading opponent of President Vladimir Putin. |
THE POLONIUM TRAIL Key locations | |
Mr Lugovoi said he was on holiday and resting. Last month he spent time in a Moscow hospital apparently being tested for radiation poisoning. | Mr Lugovoi said he was on holiday and resting. Last month he spent time in a Moscow hospital apparently being tested for radiation poisoning. |
His admission to hospital coincided with the arrival of British detectives in the Russian capital investigating the Litvinenko murder. | His admission to hospital coincided with the arrival of British detectives in the Russian capital investigating the Litvinenko murder. |
But the team from Scotland Yard still managed to meet him twice, with Russian officials questioning him on their behalf. | But the team from Scotland Yard still managed to meet him twice, with Russian officials questioning him on their behalf. |
Mr Lugovoi and another man, Dmitri Kovtun, are at the centre of the British investigation because they met Mr Litvinenko at a London hotel on 1 November - the day it is thought he was poisoned with polonium-210. | Mr Lugovoi and another man, Dmitri Kovtun, are at the centre of the British investigation because they met Mr Litvinenko at a London hotel on 1 November - the day it is thought he was poisoned with polonium-210. |
Eight hotel workers and another guest have tested positive for polonium. | Eight hotel workers and another guest have tested positive for polonium. |
The Interfax news agency has quoted a source at the office of Russia's prosecutor-general saying it is against Russia's constitution to extradite any of its citizens. | The Interfax news agency has quoted a source at the office of Russia's prosecutor-general saying it is against Russia's constitution to extradite any of its citizens. |
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