Naturally, there is room for skepticism here.
Andrei Lugovoi in an AP photo from May 31, 2007
There is a ban in Russia’s constitution, apparently, on the extradition of Russian citizens, and European convention on the same subject. But what is surprising to me is a particular point made in the the Russian prosecutor Yuri Chaika’s office’s statement. They are apparently ready to study the possibility of prosecuting Andrei Lugovoi in Russia, should Britain produce the necessary evidence to justify it.
hmmmm.
The Guardian: “Russia Refuses to Extradite Spy Suspect”
Stratfor: Russia: British Extradition Request Denied
Reuters uk: UPDATE 4-Russia rejects UK’s Litvinenko extradition request
Alexander Litvinenko died in a strange poisoning incident earlier this year from a rare radioactive isotope that some say could have only come from a country’s government.
Lugovoi threw fuel on the fire of the extradition request with a dramatic press conference at the end of May alleging that the British secret services were involved in Litvinenko’s murder. Russia’s new KGB, the FSB secret service,said that Vyachaslav Zharko, another Russian, turned himself over to Russian authorities after Lugovoi’s press conference, saying had been recruited by the MI5, spied for Britain and now feared for his life.
Bearing that in mind…
Even more spies
A Russian national recruited by MI6 collaborates with the Russian Federal Security Service
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) spread an announcement that it worked with a Russian national who complained of having been recruited by MI6 (Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service). “The person, whose name is not disclosed, told that he had been recruited in London by staffers of British secret services.” – said a FSB spokesman. According to him, the man mentioned names of the intelligence officers, described in detail in what countries of Europe, cities and hotels secret meetings had been appointed and what tasks had been set.
The spokesman being a true secret service man did not say anything definite but claimed that the man has decided to come to the FSB reception office of his own free will being under apprehension of his life. It happened several days after the press-conference of businessman Andrei Lugovoi. (In May)
Of course, what this all boils down to is–some people should just shut their traps. Still, something is fishy about Litvinenko’s death. But can we trust any government these days to unravel stories of corruption and murder? Least of all the former Soviet Union with its Western veneer?
