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| 'No problem' over Litvinenko case | 'No problem' over Litvinenko case |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The UK's attempts to extradite a man over Alexander Litvinenko's murder have not damaged relations with Russia, its first deputy prime minister has said. | The UK's attempts to extradite a man over Alexander Litvinenko's murder have not damaged relations with Russia, its first deputy prime minister has said. |
| Sergey Ivanov said the case was not connected with UK-Russia relations and there was "no problem". | Sergey Ivanov said the case was not connected with UK-Russia relations and there was "no problem". |
| He said Russian prosecutors would make "an independent decision" about an extradition request "based on the constitution and the Russian laws". | He said Russian prosecutors would make "an independent decision" about an extradition request "based on the constitution and the Russian laws". |
| The UK wants to charge former KGB agent Andrei Lugovoi, who denies involvement. | The UK wants to charge former KGB agent Andrei Lugovoi, who denies involvement. |
| 'Independent decision' | 'Independent decision' |
| Mr Litvinenko, 43, himself a former KGB officer, died in London on 23 November after exposure to the radioactive isotope polonium-210. | Mr Litvinenko, 43, himself a former KGB officer, died in London on 23 November after exposure to the radioactive isotope polonium-210. |
| Mr Ivanov told a news conference: "There's no connection between the Litvinenko case and the UK/Russia relations. | Mr Ivanov told a news conference: "There's no connection between the Litvinenko case and the UK/Russia relations. |
| "We have independent courts and prosecutors which, I hope, will receive official documents from the British side. | "We have independent courts and prosecutors which, I hope, will receive official documents from the British side. |
| We believe Russia should abide by its international obligations Tony Blair's official spokesman href="/1/hi/world/europe/6683523.stm">Russian media on UK request | |
| "They'll look at these papers and then make an independent decision which will be based on the constitution and the Russian laws. | "They'll look at these papers and then make an independent decision which will be based on the constitution and the Russian laws. |
| "As for the UK/Russia relations, I think they're ok. No problem, as the British say." | "As for the UK/Russia relations, I think they're ok. No problem, as the British say." |
| Tony Blair has said the UK will not "shy away" from seeking justice. | Tony Blair has said the UK will not "shy away" from seeking justice. |
| His official spokesman said on Wednesday: "We believe Russia should abide by its international obligations, and we believe it's through abiding by international obligations that people can have confidence - whether it's in investment or international relations." | His official spokesman said on Wednesday: "We believe Russia should abide by its international obligations, and we believe it's through abiding by international obligations that people can have confidence - whether it's in investment or international relations." |
| But the Kremlin maintains Russia's constitution does not allow it to hand over Mr Lugovoi. | But the Kremlin maintains Russia's constitution does not allow it to hand over Mr Lugovoi. |
| Mr Litvinenko, who was a critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was granted political asylum in the UK in 2000 after defecting from Russia. | Mr Litvinenko, who was a critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was granted political asylum in the UK in 2000 after defecting from Russia. |
| 'Full co-operation' | 'Full co-operation' |
| The UK's director of public prosecutions has recommended Mr Lugovoi be extradited to stand trial for the murder of Mr Litvinenko by "deliberate poisoning". | The UK's director of public prosecutions has recommended Mr Lugovoi be extradited to stand trial for the murder of Mr Litvinenko by "deliberate poisoning". |
| The formal submission of the UK's extradition request is expected to take place before the end of the week. | The formal submission of the UK's extradition request is expected to take place before the end of the week. |
| Andrei Lugovoi has strongly denied any involvement | Andrei Lugovoi has strongly denied any involvement |
| In Moscow, the prosecutor-general's office said Russian citizens could not be extradited to a foreign country but could appear in a domestic court "with evidence provided by the foreign state". | In Moscow, the prosecutor-general's office said Russian citizens could not be extradited to a foreign country but could appear in a domestic court "with evidence provided by the foreign state". |
| Exiled Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky, who the UK has refused to send back to Russia, said Mr Lugovoi would never be allowed to face trial in the UK. | Exiled Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky, who the UK has refused to send back to Russia, said Mr Lugovoi would never be allowed to face trial in the UK. |
| The vocal critic of the Moscow regime also said he had no doubt President Putin had directly authorised the murder of Mr Litvinenko. | The vocal critic of the Moscow regime also said he had no doubt President Putin had directly authorised the murder of Mr Litvinenko. |
| The Kremlin has previously dismissed such suggestions as "nonsense". | The Kremlin has previously dismissed such suggestions as "nonsense". |
| I don't understand what proof they have or what motive they think I might have - or, indeed, how I could have done it Andrei Lugovoi | I don't understand what proof they have or what motive they think I might have - or, indeed, how I could have done it Andrei Lugovoi |
| "It is impossible to produce polonium without state support and impossible to transport polonium... without state support," Mr Berezovsky said. | "It is impossible to produce polonium without state support and impossible to transport polonium... without state support," Mr Berezovsky said. |
| "It can't have happened without his personal involvement and that's exactly what Alexander told me in the hospital. | "It can't have happened without his personal involvement and that's exactly what Alexander told me in the hospital. |
| "Because of that, Lugovoi will never be extradited to London, and on the other hand I think Lugovoi's life is in danger, because it is absolutely the typical KGB way to solve the problem, to kill the witness of the crime." | "Because of that, Lugovoi will never be extradited to London, and on the other hand I think Lugovoi's life is in danger, because it is absolutely the typical KGB way to solve the problem, to kill the witness of the crime." |
| Polonium trail | Polonium trail |
| On Tuesday Mr Lugovoi maintained the UK's request was "politically motivated" and described himself as a "victim not a perpetrator of a radiation attack" while in London. | On Tuesday Mr Lugovoi maintained the UK's request was "politically motivated" and described himself as a "victim not a perpetrator of a radiation attack" while in London. |
| Mr Lugovoi told Russian television: "I've said it before and I'll say it again - my family and myself were attacked when we were in the UK. | Mr Lugovoi told Russian television: "I've said it before and I'll say it again - my family and myself were attacked when we were in the UK. |
| "I think today's charges are completely inadequate. I don't understand what proof they have or what motive they think I might have - or, indeed, how I could have done it. | "I think today's charges are completely inadequate. I don't understand what proof they have or what motive they think I might have - or, indeed, how I could have done it. |
| "So I'm deeply surprised about the inadequate actions of the British law enforcement bodies." | "So I'm deeply surprised about the inadequate actions of the British law enforcement bodies." |
| Mr Lugovoi met Mr Litvinenko on the day he fell ill. | Mr Lugovoi met Mr Litvinenko on the day he fell ill. |
| Polonium-210 was found in a string of places Mr Lugovoi visited in London, but he has insisted he is a witness not a suspect. | Polonium-210 was found in a string of places Mr Lugovoi visited in London, but he has insisted he is a witness not a suspect. |
| A documentary about the murder of Mr Litvinenko, called Rebellion: The Litvinenko Case, is to be screened at the Cannes film festival on Saturday. | |
| The film, directed by Mr Litvinenko's friend Andrei Nekrasov, follows him in his last days and is highly critical of the Russian authorities. |