Litvinenko murder suspect refuses to testify

Published on 13/03/2013 00:00

A FORMER Russian agent suspected of murdering spy Alexander Litvinenko has said he will no longer assist a British inquest into his death.

Andrei Lugovoy, a Russian politician who once worked for the KGB, told the Interfax news agency he would not get “justice” in the UK.

Mr Litvinenko, 43, died in November 2006 after being poisoned with radioactive polonium-210 while drinking tea at a London meeting. It is alleged he was with Lugovoy, who denies being involved.

Russia has refused to extradite Lugovoy. But it was hoped he might give evidence by video-link to the London inquest. However, yesterday he told Interfax: “I have no hope to get justice in the UK. I finally lost faith in the possibility of an impartial investigation of the case in England.”