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| Litvinenko demand foolish - Putin | Litvinenko demand foolish - Putin |
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| A UK request that a former KGB agent be extradited over the murder of Alexander Litvinenko is "pure foolishness", Russian President Vladimir Putin says. | A UK request that a former KGB agent be extradited over the murder of Alexander Litvinenko is "pure foolishness", Russian President Vladimir Putin says. |
| Russia's constitution did not permit it to hand over citizens and British prosecutors' competence was in doubt if they had not known that, Mr Putin said. | Russia's constitution did not permit it to hand over citizens and British prosecutors' competence was in doubt if they had not known that, Mr Putin said. |
| He said if the UK sent enough evidence a trial could be held in Russia. | He said if the UK sent enough evidence a trial could be held in Russia. |
| The UK wants to charge Andre Lugovoi, who denies involvement, with murdering Mr Litvinenko, 43, in London in 2006. | The UK wants to charge Andre Lugovoi, who denies involvement, with murdering Mr Litvinenko, 43, in London in 2006. |
| He died in November after exposure to the radioactive isotope polonium-210. | He died in November after exposure to the radioactive isotope polonium-210. |
| Mr Litvinenko, who was granted political asylum in the UK in 2000, was a former KGB agent himself and a critic of Mr Putin. | Mr Litvinenko, who was granted political asylum in the UK in 2000, was a former KGB agent himself and a critic of Mr Putin. |
| The UK's director of public prosecutions has recommended that Mr Lugovoi be tried for murder by "deliberate poisoning" and a formal extradition request has been handed over to the authorities in Moscow. | The UK's director of public prosecutions has recommended that Mr Lugovoi be tried for murder by "deliberate poisoning" and a formal extradition request has been handed over to the authorities in Moscow. |
| KEY EVENTS IN CASE 1 November 2006: Alexander Litvinenko meets Andrei Lugovoi and another Russian at a London hotel 23 November 2006: Litvinenko dies in a London hospital24 November 2006: A Litvinenko statement accuses Russian President Vladimir Putin of involvement in his death. Experts say Litvinenko was poisoned 6 December 2006: UK police say they are treating the death as murder 22 May 2007: Lugovoi should be charged with Litvinenko's murder, British prosecutors say 28 May 2007: UK makes formal request for Lugovoi's extradition from Russia Full timeline of events | KEY EVENTS IN CASE 1 November 2006: Alexander Litvinenko meets Andrei Lugovoi and another Russian at a London hotel 23 November 2006: Litvinenko dies in a London hospital24 November 2006: A Litvinenko statement accuses Russian President Vladimir Putin of involvement in his death. Experts say Litvinenko was poisoned 6 December 2006: UK police say they are treating the death as murder 22 May 2007: Lugovoi should be charged with Litvinenko's murder, British prosecutors say 28 May 2007: UK makes formal request for Lugovoi's extradition from Russia Full timeline of events |
| The request has been made under the 1957 Council of Europe European Convention on Extradition, of which Russia is a signatory. However, Russia does have the right, under Article 6, to refuse to extradite one of its nationals. | The request has been made under the 1957 Council of Europe European Convention on Extradition, of which Russia is a signatory. However, Russia does have the right, under Article 6, to refuse to extradite one of its nationals. |
| Speaking to journalists ahead of his attendance at the G8 summit in Germany, Mr Putin reiterated the fact that Russia can prosecute a citizen for a crime in a foreign country. | Speaking to journalists ahead of his attendance at the G8 summit in Germany, Mr Putin reiterated the fact that Russia can prosecute a citizen for a crime in a foreign country. |
| However, he said the UK had not yet supplied it with sufficient details of the case against Mr Lugovoi, who met Mr Litvinenko on the day he fell ill. | |
| "Rather than simply demand Lugovoi's extradition, they should send enough evidence for the case to be taken to court," he said. | "Rather than simply demand Lugovoi's extradition, they should send enough evidence for the case to be taken to court," he said. |
| "We'll do it in Russia, and any person found guilty of causing Litvinenko's death will be convicted." | "We'll do it in Russia, and any person found guilty of causing Litvinenko's death will be convicted." |
| Mr Litvinenko's widow, Marina, has dismissed Mr Lugovoi's claims that British secret services had a part in the death. | Mr Litvinenko's widow, Marina, has dismissed Mr Lugovoi's claims that British secret services had a part in the death. |
| She said her husband's case was different from anything that had happened before and Russia should reconsider its law over extraditions. | She said her husband's case was different from anything that had happened before and Russia should reconsider its law over extraditions. |