Topline
Russia was responsible in 2006 for Alexander Litvinenko's murder. A former Russian spy and defector, Litvinenko had become a British citizen. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), ruled Tuesday. This decision is a rebuke to Moscows repeated denials of any involvement in the killing.
Alexander Litvinenko, who had drunk tea laced with radioactive metal polonium, was murdered in 2006. AFP via Getty Images
The Key Facts
The ECHR ruled that Litvinenko's assassination could be attributed to Russia. This was in line with a British investigation which concluded that Andrei Lugovoy, a former KGB bodyguard, and Dmitry Kovtun were the murderers. According to the ruling, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), the successor to the Soviet-era KGB, was responsible for the assassination. The ECHR stated that Litvinenko's assassination was a complex and planned operation. It involved the purchase of a rare and deadly poison. Lugovoy and Kovtuns continued and sustained attempts at administering it. This suggested that Litvinenko was the target. The European court found that Russia was involved in the assassination. Moscow would also have the information if the operation had been carried out by rogue men.
Important Background
Litvinenko had been a prominent critic both of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and his former employer, FSB, before his assassination. Litvinenko fled Russia in 2000, and was granted asylum in the United Kingdom. He continued to criticize Russia's leadership. The FSB was accused of carrying out the 1999 apartment block bombings that claimed more than 200 victims in Russia. This was blamed by the Kremlin. After drinking tea laced with radioactive metal polonium, he was shot to death in 2006. After suffering from poisoning symptoms including hair loss and frailty, Litvinenko was found lying on his London hospital bed. Litvinenko confessed to detectives that he believed Putin ordered his murder.
Section Title
Russia is responsible for Alexander Litvinenko's death, European court rules (The Guardian).
Russia is responsible for Litvinenko's murder, European rights court rules. (Reuters).
