Russia found responsible for poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko
He was poisoned back in 2006
Last updated 21st Sep 2021
Russia has been found guilty for the 2006 poisoning by Alexander Litvinenko, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled.
Litvinenko, a former Russian spy turned British citizen, died after being poisoned by Polonium 210, a rare radioactive isotope, while in London.
The former Russian FSB agent was an outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin, and worked alongside MI6 after fleeing the country.
His death came six years to the day after fleeing to the UK, three weeks after drinking a poisoned green tea at London’s Millennium Hotel.
In 2016, a UK inquiry concluded that Putin likely approved the Russian intelligence operation to murder Litvinenko.
The enquiry stated that former KGB bodyguard Andrei Lugovoi and another Russian, Dmitry Kovtun intentionally poisoned Mr Litvinenko by putting the radioactive substance into his drink.
The European Court of Human Rights ruled that: "The Court found in particular that there was a strong prima facie case that, in poisoning Mr Litvinenko, Mr Lugovoi and Mr Kovtun had been acting as agents of the Russian state."
Russia has always denied involvement of Litvinenko's murder.
Additionally, both Mr Lugovoi and Mr Kovtun have denied any involvement in the killing.