UK Government claims Putin knew about ex-Russian spy murder; Kremlin not amused, may sue for slander

The UK Government faces a potential lawsuit over comments made on the inquiry into the murder of ex-Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko.

The Daily Mail has some details on the inquiry which states that Litvinenko was killed by FSB spies Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitri Kovtun by contaminating his teapot with radioactive polonium-210 at the Mayfair hotel in central London.

Sir Robert Owen, the British judge who presided over Litvinenko's inquiry, was quoted as saying he was "sure" the two assassins placed the polonium in the drink knowing it would kill their target.

According to The Independent Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov took offense at the British judge's words.  In his annual press conference,  Lavrov said that the inquiry made some "serious allegations against the Russian leadership, but contained absolutely no evidence".

Lavrov took offense on Sir Robert Owens' wordings in the report, which implies that Russian President Vladimir Putin may have approved of Litvinenko's murder.  Mr. Lavrov further states that the ensuing "circus surrounding the Litvinenko case" may fray the diplomatic bonds between Russia and the UK.

In a report by The Daily Express, Lavrov says that it is impossible to find the truth about the murder as all those involved are now dead.

Exiled Russian oligarch and business man Boris Berezovsky, a close friend of Litvinenko, was accused of being the only person responsible for the ex-spy's murder.  He was found hanged in his own bathroom last 2013.

Another key figure in Litvinenko's murder was David West.  West was a nightclub owner whose place was contaminated with polonium-210 when Litvinenko's killers visited the establishment prior to the murder.  He was stabbed to death by his son last 2014.

The Russian Foreign Minister told the press that while his country was being punished "for an independent foreign policy", normal relations with Europe and the US are not possible until their interests are properly considered in the matter.

Whether or not the UK Government is sued by the Kremlin and President Putin for slander with regards to ex-Russia spy Alexander Litvinenko's murder; it is imperative that careful steps must be followed if both countries do not wish further deterioration of their diplomatic ties. 

Tags

KGB, Vladimir Putin, Russian Spy, Russia, Polonium, assassination, slander

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