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Litvinenko poison 'from Russia' Litvinenko poison 'from Russia'
(20 minutes later)
The radioactive substance used to poison Alexander Litvinenko was highly likely to have come from a Russian state-controlled plant, says a lawyer.The radioactive substance used to poison Alexander Litvinenko was highly likely to have come from a Russian state-controlled plant, says a lawyer.
Russia has previously denied the poison had been stolen from the country.Russia has previously denied the poison had been stolen from the country.
The former KGB agent's widow Marina wants to put pressure on Russia and find out who killed her husband.The former KGB agent's widow Marina wants to put pressure on Russia and find out who killed her husband.
Speaking on the anniversary of his death, Louise Christian, who is acting for Marina, said they were taking it to the European Court of Human Rights. Speaking on the anniversary of his death, Louise Christian, acting for Marina, said the case has been taken to the European Court of Human Rights.
Ms Christian said legal papers were filed on Thursday accusing the Russian government of complicity in the murder and of failing to carry out a proper investigation into the death.
Scotland Yard has identified Andrei Lugovoi as the main suspect in the case but he has denied any involvement.
The British government wants him to stand trial but attempts to extradite him have been unsuccessful.
Mr Litvinenko died in London's University College Hospital after being poisoned by polonium-210.Mr Litvinenko died in London's University College Hospital after being poisoned by polonium-210.
Outspoken critic Diplomatic relations between Britain and Russia have gone from strained to rocky BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7108524.stm">Analysis: Litvinenko death
Alex Goldfarb, a friend of Mr Litvinenko, said his friends and family would keep up the pressure for those responsible to be brought to justice. At a news conference Mrs Litvinenko said she still hoped the Russian authorities would extradite Mr Lugovoi to face justice in London.
"It looks unlikely that diplomacy and legal processes will result in bringing the perpetrators of this murder to justice here in London," he told a news conference. "I lost my husband and I want to know who was behind the killing.
"I promise we will find who is responsible for this. Without this knowledge, we just cannot feel we are safe," she said.
Louise Christian, who has represented the cases of Britons being held at Guantanamo Bay and relatives of the Potters Bar rail crash victims, said evidence from an expert's report showed the Russian Federation was "guilty of complicity or connivance" in Mr Litvinenko's death.
Andrei Lugovoi denies any involvement in the murder
A UK-based professor of theoretical physics concluded it was highly likely the polonium-210 came from a Russian state-controlled plant, she said.
She cited the professor as saying he was "almost certain" the Russian government was involved in supplying the polonium used to murder Alexander Litvinenko.
Alex Goldfarb, a friend of Mr Litvinenko, said friends and family would keep up the pressure for those responsible to be brought to justice.
"It looks unlikely that diplomacy and legal processes will result in bringing the perpetrators of this murder to justice here in London," he told reporters.
Instead, he said supporters would begin to speak about the "culpability of the Russian government" and would step up their campaign on the international scene.Instead, he said supporters would begin to speak about the "culpability of the Russian government" and would step up their campaign on the international scene.
Outspoken critic
Last year Russia's nuclear chief rejected suggestions that the polonium-210 linked to Mr Litvinenko's death could have been stolen from the country.Last year Russia's nuclear chief rejected suggestions that the polonium-210 linked to Mr Litvinenko's death could have been stolen from the country.
Earlier on Friday Mrs Litvinenko was joined by supporters outside the hospital, where her husband died.Earlier on Friday Mrs Litvinenko was joined by supporters outside the hospital, where her husband died.
There was a reading of Mr Litvinenko's death-bed statement accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of being involved in his murder.There was 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 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.
Earlier 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."
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 poison.
UK-Russian relationsUK-Russian relations
Andrei Lugovoi is considered the main suspect in the case but has denied any involvement. Businessman Mr Lugovoi, who is running for a seat in the Russian parliament, claims the British case for his extradition has collapsed.
The UK wants him to stand trial but attempts to extradite him have been unsuccessful. He rejects all charges and has just won a libel case against a prominent Russian newspaper.
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.
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 Cold War.BBC News security correspondent Frank Gardner says mutual suspicions are back close to where they were in the dark days of the Cold War.