Russian Backed Political Murder - Political Fever

The Black Ghost · #1 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 09:37 PM

I dont think it comes as much of a surprise to anyone, but official investigations are beginging to turn out evidence of the murder of Russian political opponent Alexander Litvinenko, and that Russian authorities were probably involved. Definately a scary thought that these things are still going on in the shadow of the ex-soviet sphere. So how legitamite is this claim?

Quote:

Russia backed Litvinenko murder: report

LONDON (Reuters) - The Russian state backed the murder in London of former KGB agent and Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko, according to British security sources quoted by the BBC on Monday.

A senior security official, cited by BBC TV's Newsnight, said there were "very strong indications it was a state action."

The accusations come on the day that British Prime Minister Gordon Brown met Russian President Dmitry Medvedev for the first time since Medvedev took office in May.

Their talks at the summit of G8 leaders in Japan were an attempt to ease tensions created since 2006 by the Litvinenko affair.

Moscow and London established cordial ties after Medvedev's predecessor Vladimir Putin came to power in 2000. But they soured when Russia accused Britain of hosting the Kremlin's political foes -- self-exiled businessman Boris Berezovsky and Chechen rebel leader Akhmed Zakayev.

Relations between the two countries reached their lowest point since the Cold War after Russia refused to extradite to Britain ex-security guard Andrei Lugovoy, accused of poisoning Litvinenko in London almost two years ago.

Russia strongly denies state involvement in the killing. It refuses to hand over Lugovoy because its constitution bars it from extraditing its own nationals.

The BBC said it had been told Russia's security service, the FSB, operated under Putin with far more autonomy than organizations usually entrusted with foreign espionage operations.

"We very strongly believe the Litvinenko case to have some state involvement," the source said.

Newsnight said the British Secret Service also believed it thwarted an attempt last year to kill Berezovsky.

That alleged attempt, the source said, showed "continued FSB willingness to consider operations against people in the West."

(Reporting by Paul Majendie; Editing by Catherine Evans)

Russia backed Litvinenko murder: report - washingtonpost.com

Comrade Joe · #2 (**permalink**) 07-08-2008, 11:31 AM

i dont take anything the British authorities say at face value. Where is their evidence. Russia is conducting its own investigation.

Quote:

Russian investigators have no information suggesting that the security services were involved in the death of Aleksandr Litvinenko case, Vladimir Markin, spokesperson for the Investigation Committee of the Prosecutor's Office told the ITAR-TASS news agency on Tuesday.

Markin said as the crime was committed on the territory of a foreign state, Russian investigators have “repeatedly sent international requests to competent agencies of a number of states, including Great Britain, to interrogate a number of persons and conduct searches and probes.”

“Despite the fact that these requests have not been fulfilled in full up to now, the investigation has advanced considerably and does not have any information that any security service is involved in the crime," the official said.

Former Russian security officer Aleksandr Litvinenko died of polonium-210 poisoning in November 2006 in London.

Britain believes he was murdered with the highly toxic isotope by another former Russian security officer Andrey Lugovoy, and has asked Moscow to extradite him.

However, Russia refused, saying it contradicts the country's constitution.

RussiaToday : News : Security services not involved in Litvinenko case â€“ Russia

pjohns · #3 (**permalink**) 07-08-2008, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Comrade Joe

i dont take anything the British authorities say at face value. Where is their evidence. Russia is conducting its own investigation.

So Russia is "conducting its own investigation" to see who really committed this heinous murder. How very...well, convenient.

Comrade Joe · #4 (**permalink**) 07-08-2008, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjohns

So Russia is "conducting its own investigation" to see who really committed this heinous murder. How very...well, convenient.

Well a RUssian was murdered. It is only right that Russia investigates. Given that it is against the Russian constitution to send any suspects abroad for questioning it is imperative that there is an investigation in Russia. Given the way Americans clutch to their own constitution, i think you ought to pay the same respect to Russia when they look to uphold theirs.

The Black Ghost · #5 (**permalink**) 07-08-2008, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Comrade Joe

Well a RUssian was murdered. It is only right that Russia investigates. Given that it is against the Russian constitution to send any suspects abroad for questioning it is imperative that there is an investigation in Russia. Given the way Americans clutch to their own constitution, i think you ought to pay the same respect to Russia when they look to uphold theirs.

Well it wasnt on their soil either. They can investigate the same as everyone else but I doubt they'll incriminate themselves.

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