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UK requests Lugovoi extradition UK requests Lugovoi extradition
(20 minutes later)
A formal extradition request has been made to Russia for the ex-KGB agent wanted over Alexander Litvinenko's murder, the Foreign Office has said.A formal extradition request has been made to Russia for the ex-KGB agent wanted over Alexander Litvinenko's murder, the Foreign Office has said.
It follows the recommendation by the director of public prosecutions, Sir Ken Macdonald, that Andrei Lugovoi should be tried for the "grave crime".It follows the recommendation by the director of public prosecutions, Sir Ken Macdonald, that Andrei Lugovoi should be tried for the "grave crime".
Mr Lugovoi denies the charges which he called "politically motivated".Mr Lugovoi denies the charges which he called "politically motivated".
Mr Litvinenko, 43, himself a former KGB officer, died in 2006 after exposure to the radioactive isotope polonium-210.Mr Litvinenko, 43, himself a former KGB officer, died in 2006 after exposure to the radioactive isotope polonium-210.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "I can confirm that our ambassador has formally handed over the papers requesting the extradition of Andrei Lugovoi."A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "I can confirm that our ambassador has formally handed over the papers requesting the extradition of Andrei Lugovoi."
Russian news agency Interfax said a spokesperson for the prosecutor general had received Britain's extradition request. A spokesperson for the Russian prosecutor general told the Russian news agency Interfax they had received Britain's extradition request.
"The Russian prosecutor general's office received materials today regarding the request to extradite Andrei Lugovoi, whom Britain suspects in the poisoning murder of former Russian agent Litvinenko," the agency reported the spokesperson as saying. "The Russian prosecutor general's office received materials today regarding the request to extradite Andrei Lugovoi, whom Britain suspects in the poisoning murder of former Russian agent Litvinenko," the spokesperson said.
Attack 'victim'Attack 'victim'
Mr Lugovoi maintained last week that he was innocent and described himself as a "victim not a perpetrator of a radiation attack" while in London.Mr Lugovoi maintained last week that he was innocent and described himself as a "victim not a perpetrator of a radiation attack" while in London.
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.
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".
It's possible Russian prosecutors might then decide to arrest and try Lugovoi here in Russia Rupert Wingfield-HayesBBC correspondent
But the Kremlin maintains Russia's constitution does not allow it to hand over Mr Lugovoi, a position reaffirmed by the country's justice minister Vladimir Ustinov.But the Kremlin maintains Russia's constitution does not allow it to hand over Mr Lugovoi, a position reaffirmed by the country's justice minister Vladimir Ustinov.
"The Russian constitution will stay inviolable and it will be observed to the full," the news agency Itar-Tass quoted him as saying."The Russian constitution will stay inviolable and it will be observed to the full," the news agency Itar-Tass quoted him as saying.
The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Moscow said it was not clear what would happen now, as Russia had said it cannot extradite Mr Lugovoi on the charges. It is possible Russian prosecutors might decide to arrest and try Lugovoi in Russia.
"What it can do is look at the evidence presented by the British side," he said. The prosecutor general's office previously 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".
"It's possible Russian prosecutors might then decide to arrest and try Lugovoi here in Russia, but Britain continues to insist that that is not good enough, that Andrei Lugovoi must be handed over to stand trial in Britain."
Mr Litvinenko, who was a critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was granted political asylum in the UK in 2000.Mr Litvinenko, who was a critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was granted political asylum in the UK in 2000.
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".