Litvinenko widow accuses Putin of ordering husband killing

[Lite Beer]

Litvinenko widow accuses Putin of ordering husband killing
JILL LAWLESS, Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — Nine years after former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko drank radioactive tea at a London hotel, an inquiry into his death ended Friday with his widow claiming President Vladimir Putin ordered the killing — and Moscow accusing Britain of politicizing the probe.

Litvinenko, who fled to London in 2000 and became a fierce critic of Putin, died three weeks after drinking tea laced with radioactive polonim-210. On his deathbed, he accused Putin of ordering his assassination — a claim Moscow denies.

His death continues to be an irritant in worsening relations between the two countries. And despite a six-month inquiry that heard from 62 witnesses, putting anyone on trial for the killing remains a remote prospect.

Outside London's Royal Courts of Justice, Marina Litvinenko said the inquiry had revealed that "my husband was killed by agents of the Russian state ... and this could not have happened without the knowledge and consent of Mr. Putin."

Her lawyer, Ben Emmerson, called Putin a "tin-pot dictator" who had ordered the "liquidation" of an enemy.

The Russian Foreign Ministry slammed the public inquiry, saying that "despite its name it is not transparent, either for Russia or for the general public." It said Moscow had been "actively assisting" the British probe until it began to fear it could be used for political ends.

Emmerson said Moscow had attempted "to frustrate and manipulate" the investigation from the start, by refusing to cooperate and raising objections and obstacles.

British police have accused Dmitry Kovtun and Andrei Lugovoi — the two Russians Litvinenko met for tea — of carrying out the killing, sponsored by elements in the Kremlin. Both deny involvement, and Moscow refuses to extradite them.

That stalemate lasted for years, and investigations into the death were further delayed by Britain's reluctance to disclose secret intelligence evidence about Litvinenko and his links to U.K. spy agencies.

Last year the government announced a judge-led public inquiry. The judge, Robert Owen, has seen the secret evidence, though lawyers, press and the public have not.

British detectives and scientists told the inquiry that scientific evidence points to the guilt of Kovtun and Lugovoi, a former agent in the KGB's successor, the FSB. Traces of highly radioactive polonium were found in hotels, restaurants and other sites across London that they visited.

Litvinenko's killing, with its brutality and echoes of Cold War intrigue, soured relations between London and Moscow. They have since deteriorated further, as the West imposes economic sanctions on Russia over the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Owen is due to report by the end of the year on who killed Litvinenko, and whether the Russian state was involved. A finding of direct involvement by Putin would likely bring calls for more sanctions, and another downturn in U.K.-Russian relations.

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-07-31

[MZurf]

Putin should stand trial for this murder, several other murders of activists and most importantly for MH 17 and invading Ukraine.

[Barin]

Alexander Litvinenko's father calls his son a traitor: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/9057560/Alexander-Litvinenkos-father-calls-his-son-a-traitor.html

[Thrilla]

Putin should stand trial for this murder, several other murders of activists and most importantly for MH 17 and invading Ukraine.

Please present your proof here !

Here's a handy hint - If Putin wanted the bankrupt, basket case, Russian despising Ukraine, he could invade and subdue it within 24 hours !

( Think about it )

Enjoy your Happy Meal.

[personchester]

Putin should stand trial for this murder, several other murders of activists and most importantly for MH 17 and invading Ukraine.

Several times Putin has been publicly elected president of Russia and there will be no trial's taking place about him because he is a powerful top politician.

His political activities are somewhat similar of former Adolf Hitler.

[hawker9000]

Putin should stand trial for this murder, several other murders of activists and most importantly for MH 17 and invading Ukraine.

Please present your proof here !

Here's a handy hint - If Putin wanted the bankrupt, basket case, Russian despising Ukraine, he could invade and subdue it within 24 hours !

( Think about it )

Enjoy your Happy Meal.

Proof of things like murder is generally presented, for the first time at least, in a courtroom, not some online forum where anybody can post anything anonymously, and even the parroting of the rubbish appearing daily on RT - aka the Voice of Vlad - has to be entertained.

It would seem you're enjoying YOUR Happy Meal far more than most of the crowd Putin seems intent on intimidating. Yes, he could probably overrun the Ukraine within 24 hours or something close to that - if he didn't mind antagonizing the entire world, driving former Soviet bloc states into NATO, driving others to appeal to the west to aid them in shoring up their own defenses, ensuring more missile deployments in Eastern Europe, escalating sanctions, and doing more damage to the ruble and Russian credibility than has already been done ...

[wabothai]

Putin should stand trial for this murder, several other murders of activists and most importantly for MH 17 and invading Ukraine.

Please present your proof here !

Here's a handy hint - If Putin wanted the bankrupt, basket case, Russian despising Ukraine, he could invade and subdue it within 24 hours !

( Think about it )

Enjoy your Happy Meal.

What do you mean by "enjoy your hapy meal?" I find it a denigrating childish remark.

[Thrilla]

Proof of things like murder is generally presented, for the first time at least, in a courtroom, not some online forum where anybody can post anything anonymously, and even the parroting of the rubbish appearing daily on RT - aka the Voice of Vlad - has to be entertained.

So you're supporting the anonymous online posting of any accusation without proof ?

To make an accusation, you need proof. Without the proof, the accusation amounts to slander, libel - or ..propaganda

But your ethics support this.

Proof of things like murder is generally presented, for the first time at least, in a courtroom, not some online forum where anybody can post anything anonymously, and even the parroting of the rubbish appearing daily on RT - aka the Voice of Vlad - has to be entertained.

....It would seem you're enjoying YOUR Happy Meal far more than most of the crowd Putin seems intent on intimidating. Yes, he could probably overrun the Ukraine within 24 hours or something close to that - if he didn't mind antagonizing the entire world, driving former Soviet bloc states into NATO, driving others to appeal to the west to aid them in shoring up their own defenses, ensuring more missile deployments in Eastern Europe, escalating sanctions, and doing more damage to the ruble and Russian credibility than has already been done ...

You're certainly mistaken, Putin doesn't intimidate me, but..

"..if he didn't mind antagonizing the entire world, driving former Soviet bloc states into NATO, driving others to appeal to the west to aid them in shoring up their own defenses, ensuring more missile deployments in Eastern Europe, escalating sanctions, and doing more damage to the ruble and Russian credibility than has already been done ..."

From all this self constructed foot shooting mayhem, how does he benefit ?

[Scott]

An inflammatory post has been removed. Please exercise care in the remarks you direct at other posters.

[Thrilla]

Putin should stand trial for this murder, several other murders of activists and most importantly for MH 17 and invading Ukraine.

Please present your proof here !

Here's a handy hint - If Putin wanted the bankrupt, basket case, Russian despising Ukraine, he could invade and subdue it within 24 hours !

( Think about it )

Enjoy your Happy Meal.

What do you mean by "enjoy your hapy meal?" I find it a denigrating childish remark.

You're entitled to, and I certainly encourage you to express your opinion however, you would gain more traction if you would kindly address the main context of my post ie;..

1. Present proof. ..no proof has been offered !

2. Dismantling my statement on the Ukraine ..even 'hawker9000' agreed with me

...I'm sure you can counter with robust argument and not libelous statements

[MZurf]

Putin should stand trial for this murder, several other murders of activists and most importantly for MH 17 and invading Ukraine.

Please present your proof here !

Here's a handy hint - If Putin wanted the bankrupt, basket case, Russian despising Ukraine, he could invade and subdue it within 24 hours !

( Think about it )

Enjoy your Happy Meal.

What do you mean by "enjoy your hapy meal?" I find it a denigrating childish remark.

You're entitled to, and I certainly encourage you to express your opinion however, you would gain more traction if you would kindly address the main context of my post ie;..

1. Present proof. ..no proof has been offered !

2. Dismantling my statement on the Ukraine ..even 'hawker9000' agreed with me

...I'm sure you can counter with robust argument and not libelous statements

This is not a court of law, so I don't have to present sh!t. Anyone who is not a brain washed Russian can see that Putin is a man that has to be contained before he can eff it up even more.

BTW, who do you think shot down MH 17?

[Chicog]

Putin should stand trial for this murder, several other murders of activists and most importantly for MH 17 and invading Ukraine.

Please present your proof here !

Here's a handy hint - If Putin wanted the bankrupt, basket case, Russian despising Ukraine, he could invade and subdue it within 24 hours !

( Think about it )

Enjoy your Happy Meal.

Here's another handy hint: If Putin allowed the chief suspect to be extradited and questioned, you'd have a trial.

The title of this thread should be "Litvinenko widow states the bloody obvious".

[konying]

Putin should stand trial for this murder, several other murders of activists and most importantly for MH 17 and invading Ukraine.

Please present your proof here !

Here's a handy hint - If Putin wanted the bankrupt, basket case, Russian despising Ukraine, he could invade and subdue it within 24 hours !

( Think about it )

Enjoy your Happy Meal.

Here's another handy hint: If Putin allowed the chief suspect to be extradited and questioned, you'd have a trial.

The title of this thread should be "Litvinenko widow states the bloody obvious".

Do tell what country ever allowed to extradite secret agents? Ie spies .

Please do tell

[Chicog]

Putin should stand trial for this murder, several other murders of activists and most importantly for MH 17 and invading Ukraine.

Please present your proof here !

Here's a handy hint - If Putin wanted the bankrupt, basket case, Russian despising Ukraine, he could invade and subdue it within 24 hours !

( Think about it )

Enjoy your Happy Meal.

Here's another handy hint: If Putin allowed the chief suspect to be extradited and questioned, you'd have a trial.

The title of this thread should be "Litvinenko widow states the bloody obvious".

Do tell what country ever allowed to extradite secret agents? Ie spies .

Please do tell

You may have a point, but he is suspected of murder, not spying.

[konying]

You may have a point, but he is suspected of murder, not spying.

Spies do kill people and do posses information . So whatever he supposedly done makes little difference to KGB as he is still an agent.

No country in the world would extradite an agent no matter what crime he is accused of.

UK is well aware of that , just putting on a show to save face as Russia bitch slapped UK a number of times over the issue

Edited August 1, 2015 by konying

[MW72]

Putin should stand trial for this murder, several other murders of activists and most importantly for MH 17 and invading Ukraine.

Please present your proof here !

Here's a handy hint - If Putin wanted the bankrupt, basket case, Russian despising Ukraine, he could invade and subdue it within 24 hours !

( Think about it )

Enjoy your Happy Meal.

You have to give him the "invading Ukraine" bit. I don't think he needs to present evidence that Russia annexed Crimea which was part of Ukraine. A very important and strategic part of Ukraine. As you point out Ukraine is bankrupt and a basket case so no need to go the whole hog on the rest of the country. He got the most important part.

As for the political murders and MH17, will we ever see proof in any of these cases? Unless the guy who pulled the trigger comes forward I doubt it very much.

By the way, if you want to come across as being intelligent and smarter than everyone else you should avoid the "Enjoy your Happy Meal" kind of remarks.

(Think about it)

Edited August 1, 2015 by MW72

[lovetotravel]

Alexander Litvinenko's father calls his son a traitor: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/9057560/Alexander-Litvinenkos-father-calls-his-son-a-traitor.html

From that article:

Speaking to Russian state TV in his tiny flat in Italy, Walter Litvinenko, 73, said he deeply regretted accusing the Russian prime minister and FSB security service of involvement in his son's death, saying he hoped to be forgiven and allowed to return to Russia.

........

Although he chose to leave Russian of his own will, the authorities were unlikely to welcome him back and his dramatic u-turn looks like a calculated attempt to smooth the way for his return to the country of his birth.

............

Alexander Goldfarb, the co-author of a book about the murder and a friend of the late Litvinenko, accused Russian TV of acting in an irresponsible and inhumane manner, saying the Kremlin's propaganda chiefs had exploited his grief and troubled psychological condition.

"They used the troubled psychological state of an elderly man for propaganda purposes in order to whitewash Alexander's killers," he said.

A bit of an agenda there...

[Scott]

An offensive post has been removed.

[MZurf]

Putin should stand trial for this murder, several other murders of activists and most importantly for MH 17 and invading Ukraine.

Please present your proof here !

Here's a handy hint - If Putin wanted the bankrupt, basket case, Russian despising Ukraine, he could invade and subdue it within 24 hours !

( Think about it )

Enjoy your Happy Meal.

You have to give him the "invading Ukraine" bit. I don't think he needs to present evidence that Russia annexed Crimea which was part of Ukraine. A very important and strategic part of Ukraine. As you point out Ukraine is bankrupt and a basket case so no need to go the whole hog on the rest of the country. He got the most important part.

As for the political murders and MH17, will we ever see proof in any of these cases? Unless the guy who pulled the trigger comes forward I doubt it very much.

By the way, if you want to come across as being intelligent and smarter than everyone else you should avoid the "Enjoy your Happy Meal" kind of remarks.

(Think about it)

That's probably asking too much of one who gets his info from RT.

[konying]

Putin should stand trial for this murder, several other murders of activists and most importantly for MH 17 and invading Ukraine.

Please present your proof here !

Here's a handy hint - If Putin wanted the bankrupt, basket case, Russian despising Ukraine, he could invade and subdue it within 24 hours !

( Think about it )

Enjoy your Happy Meal.

You have to give him the "invading Ukraine" bit. I don't think he needs to present evidence that Russia annexed Crimea which was part of Ukraine. A very important and strategic part of Ukraine. As you point out Ukraine is bankrupt and a basket case so no need to go the whole hog on the rest of the country. He got the most important part.

As for the political murders and MH17, will we ever see proof in any of these cases? Unless the guy who pulled the trigger comes forward I doubt it very much.

By the way, if you want to come across as being intelligent and smarter than everyone else you should avoid the "Enjoy your Happy Meal" kind of remarks.

(Think about it)

That's probably asking too much of one who gets his info from RT.

RT is just as credible as any other U.S. Controlled media, each one pushes its own agenda

[craigt3365]

Please, reputable news sources only. If you disagree with this, please PM me. Do NOT make a public post.

[Barin]

Do tell what country ever allowed to extradite secret agents? Ie spies .

Please do tell

You may have a point, but he is suspected of murder, not spying.

But he WAS a secret agent, nobody denies this.

[MZurf]

Please present your proof here !

Here's a handy hint - If Putin wanted the bankrupt, basket case, Russian despising Ukraine, he could invade and subdue it within 24 hours !

( Think about it )

Enjoy your Happy Meal.

You have to give him the "invading Ukraine" bit. I don't think he needs to present evidence that Russia annexed Crimea which was part of Ukraine. A very important and strategic part of Ukraine. As you point out Ukraine is bankrupt and a basket case so no need to go the whole hog on the rest of the country. He got the most important part.

As for the political murders and MH17, will we ever see proof in any of these cases? Unless the guy who pulled the trigger comes forward I doubt it very much.

By the way, if you want to come across as being intelligent and smarter than everyone else you should avoid the "Enjoy your Happy Meal" kind of remarks.

(Think about it)

That's probably asking too much of one who gets his info from RT.

RT is just as credible as any other U.S. Controlled media, each one pushes its own agenda

OK, comparing CNN to RT clearly shows you are a brainwashed Russian so there's no need to debate this further. I have talked to several Russians that believe the Putin propaganda machine and it's like talking to mentally challenged persons. It's unbelievable the conspiracy theories they believe in.

[craigt3365]

RT is 100% owned and operated by the Russian Government. CNN is not owned and operated by the US government. Biased? Every media outlet is biased. But not all are owned and operated by their respective governments.

Back to the topic, please. With credible news sources only. RT is not one of those.

[Emster23]

Good half hour documentary on BBC this weekend for those who think there is no evidence. Plenty of overwhelming evidence Russian government was involved in this murder.

Ukraine: I think it was in 94 that Ukraine got rid of their nukes. Russian signed a treaty guaranteeing integrity of Ukraine's borders, which included Crimea, at that time.

Polonium 210 not something you can buy at corner chemist. My guess is that using this was sending a message to anyone else who dares expose Putin et al: we will track you down and kill you. A standard mob hit would not send such chills.

Russian blocked international tribunal at UN, wonder why? Story promoted on Russian TV is that Ukrainians did it: if they actually believe that, they should be all in for criminal investigation. Russia also tried to plead that rebels didn't have those Bukit missiles for some time. I went to Pravda web site from week or so before shoot down and they were bragging about all the weapons they got when captured Ukranian base, including Bukit missiles in inventory.

[Chicog]

RT is just as credible as any other U.S. Controlled media, each one pushes its own agenda

Actually it isn't, it's as credible as Press TV and the North Korean News.

[Rancid]

RT definitely flogs its own agenda, there again the western media does exactly the same thing albeit in greater numbers. Truth is very elusive and rarely lies with any publication, rather we get their opinion or agenda. Better to just keep an open mind and go with what seems more likely. Another old adage that often bears fruit is follow the money. As to what the Russians did or didn't do, all I'm hearing is opinions, proof seems to be sorely lacking and you would imagine there must be some out there.