Ex-KGB Agent/Putin Critic Dies of Radiation Poisoning

Radioactive Substance in Ex-Spy’s Body
Friday, November 24, 2006 10:17 AM EST
The Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — Former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko was poisoned by radiation, Britain’s Health Protection Agency said Friday. Agency scientist Roger Cox said polonium-210 had been found in Litvinenko’s urine. Earlier, Home Secretary John Reid said Litvinenko’s death Thursday night was “linked to the presence of a radioactive substance in his body.” Reid, the country’s top law-and-order official, said experts were searching for “residual radioactive material” at a number of locations.

The former KGB agent dictated a statement in the waning hours of his life, blaming Russian President Vladimir Putin and describing him “as barbaric and ruthless as your most hostile critics have claimed.” Putin said Friday there was no proof it was a “violent death.”

Litvinenko, a former spy turned Kremlin critic, signed the statement in the presence of his wife before losing consciousness, said Alex Goldfarb, a friend who read it aloud outside the hospital Friday.

In his first public comment on Litvinenko’s death, Putin said his passing was a tragedy and extended his condolences to his family.

But the Russian leader said British medical documents did not show “that it was a result of violence, this is not a violent death, so there is no ground for speculations of this kind.”

“A death of a man is always a tragedy and I deplore this,” Putin told reporters at a European summit in Helsinki, Finland.

Putin’s government has strongly denied involvement in Litvinenko’s death, calling the allegation “nothing but nonsense.”

“It’s so silly and unbelievable that it’s not worth comment,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in Helsinki.

“Now the case will be investigated by relevant British services and we hope that those who are standing behind this case will be brought to justice,” he added.

Litvinenko died of heart failure after days in intensive care, London’s University College Hospital said.

Very suspicious indeed…

Read here for story from The times (The British one that is)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/uk/ for front page

Doctors confirm spy was poisoned
Polonium-210 named as poison
Killing ‘unprecedented in UK’
Traces found at London addresses
Dead spy accuses Putin
Weeping father pays tribute

‘Putin killed me’: spy’s final statement - http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2469948,00.html
Friend describes his last days - http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2469176,00.html
Briefing: What is polonium-210? - http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2470023,00.html
Suspect breaks cover to issue denial - http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2469663,00.html
Russians are experts in poison - http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2469178,00.html

Any one remember the “Ricin umbrella”?

The history seems to repeat, if was a Kremlin action, Stalin should be proud.

I first thought if you need someone dead why do it in such an obvious way? Maybe it was to make an example of what happens to defectors.

"But as I lie here I can distinctly hear the beating of wings of the angel of death. I may be able to give him the slip but I have to say my legs do not run as fast as I would like. I think, therefore, that this may be the time to say one or two things to the person responsible for my present condition.

You may succeed in silencing me but that silence comes at a price. You have shown yourself to be as barbaric and ruthless as your most hostile critics have claimed. You have shown yourself to have no respect for life, liberty or any civilised value.

You have shown yourself to be unworthy of your office, to be unworthy of the trust of civilised men and women. You may succeed in silencing one man but the howl of protest from around the world will reverberate, Mr Putin, in your ears for the rest of your life.

May God forgive you for what you have done, not only to me but to beloved Russia and its people."

And some comments from russia:

“I think it’s important to find the people involved, instead of establishing the origin of the substance which killed Litvinenko.”

  • Pavel Krasheninnikov, the head of the State Duma’s legislation committee

Those who poisoned Aleksandr Litvinenko could in fact have been targeting Akhmed Zakayev, the London-exiled Chechen separatist envoy.

  • Andrei Lugovoi, a former Russian spy

Interesting to see how things will progress from now on… Especially if police manages to trace things.