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Anniversary appeal for Litvinenko Anniversary appeal for Litvinenko
(about 1 hour later)
The family of murdered Russian Alexander Litvinenko is renewing its appeal for justice on the first anniversary of his death. The family of murdered Russian Alexander Litvinenko are to renew their appeal for justice on the first anniversary of his death.
The former KGB agent died at London's University College Hospital after being poisoned by radioactive polonium-210. The former KGB agent died in a London hospital from radioactive poisoning.
His widow Marina is to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights to try to pressure Russian authorities.His widow Marina is to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights to try to pressure Russian authorities.
The UK has tried to extradite suspect Andrei Lugovoi, who denies involvement, but without success. The UK's unsuccessful attempt to extradite suspect Andrei Lugovoi, who denies involvement, has led to a deterioration in UK-Russian relations.
Outspoken criticOutspoken critic
Mrs Litvinenko is to be joined by supporters outside the hospital on Friday, and there is to be a reading of her husband's death-bed statement accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of being involved in his murder. Mrs Litvinenko is to be joined on Friday by supporters outside London's University College Hospital, where her husband died.
There is expected to be a reading of Mr Litvinenko's death-bed statement accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of being involved in his murder.
Relations between Britain and Russia have gone from strained to rocky BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner Analysis: Litvinenko deathRelations between Britain and Russia have gone from strained to rocky BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner Analysis: Litvinenko death
The Litvinenko family's legal move is being led by high-profile solicitor Louise Christian, who has represented the cases of Britons being held at Guantanamo Bay and relatives of the Potters Bar rail crash victims.The Litvinenko family's legal move is being led by high-profile solicitor Louise Christian, who has represented the cases of Britons being held at Guantanamo Bay and relatives of the Potters Bar rail crash victims.
She said: "If serious crime on the scale of this poisoning is allowed to go unpunished it brings into disrepute the whole authority of the police, the courts and the government.She said: "If serious crime on the scale of this poisoning is allowed to go unpunished it brings into disrepute the whole authority of the police, the courts and the government.
"The British government must ensure this does not happen. The rule of law itself will be under threat if there is any suggestion that justice has been compromised because of diplomatic or foreign policy considerations.""The British government must ensure this does not happen. The rule of law itself will be under threat if there is any suggestion that justice has been compromised because of diplomatic or foreign policy considerations."
Mr Litvinenko, who was an outspoken critic of Mr Putin's leadership in Russia, died after drinking tea containing the poison. Mr Litvinenko, who was an outspoken critic of Mr Putin's leadership in Russia, died after drinking tea containing the radioactive substance, polonium-210.
UK-Russian relationsUK-Russian relations
The UK considers Mr Lugovoi the main suspect in the case, and wants him to stand trial in this country.The UK considers Mr Lugovoi the main suspect in the case, and wants him to stand trial in this country.
But the businessman, who is running for a seat in the Russian parliament, claims the British case for his extradition has collapsed.But the businessman, who is running for a seat in the Russian parliament, claims the British case for his extradition has collapsed.
Mr Lugovoi rejects all charges and has just won a libel case against a prominent Russian newspaper.Mr Lugovoi rejects all charges and has just won a libel case against a prominent Russian newspaper.
In the wake of the Litvinenko affair there has been a deterioration in UK-Russian relations.In the wake of the Litvinenko affair there has been a deterioration in UK-Russian relations.
There have been tit-for-tat expulsions of first Russian then British diplomats, and a suspension of co-operation between security services, with no sign of either government inclined to back down.There have been tit-for-tat expulsions of first Russian then British diplomats, and a suspension of co-operation between security services, with no sign of either government inclined to back down.
BBC News security correspondent Frank Gardner says mutual suspicions are back close to where they were in the dark days of the 1980s.BBC News security correspondent Frank Gardner says mutual suspicions are back close to where they were in the dark days of the 1980s.