Alexander Litvinenko: Ex KGB spy accused of his murder said ''traitor'' deserved to be ''exterminated''
17:09, 10 February 2015
By Jack Hardy, David Mercer
Litvinenko was a Russian spy turned British spy who died in 2006 after drinking tea laced with radioactive polonium-210 at London's Millennium Hotel
Last days: Mr Litvinenko before death at University College Hospital in London
One of the men suspecting of murdering poisoned spy Alexander Litvinenko believed he was a “traitor” and that anyone who caused damage to Russia should be “exterminated”, the inquiry into his death has heard.
Former KGB officer Andrei Lugovoi made the comments in an interview two years after Mr Litvinenko’s death, as he faced questions about his alleged involvement, the Royal Courts of Justice was told.
In an extract of the newspaper interview shown to the inquiry, Mr Lugovoi was asked whether he agreed with Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) that Mr Litvinenko - who worked for the British intelligence services after moving to the UK - was a “traitor”.
Accused: Andrei Lugovoi
He replied: “I think so as well. That doesn’t mean that a traitor has to be immediately killed.”
He added: “If someone has caused the Russian state serious damage, they should be exterminated. This is my firm belief and the belief of any normal Russian”.
Litvinenko widow arrives to give evidence at hearing into her husband's death Video loading
Detective Inspector Craig Mascall from the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism unit told the inquiry that British officers travelled to Moscow to interview Mr Lugovoi and fellow suspect Dmitri Kovtun in December 2006, just weeks after Mr Litvinenko died at University College Hospital in London.
Andrew O’Connor, counsel to the inquiry, asked Mr Mascall: “Those two men are currently wanted for the offence of murder? The murder of Mr Litvinenko?”
He replied: “That’s correct.”
Poisoned: The last photo taken of Mr Litvinenko alive
Mr O’Connor asked what action would be taken should either men return to the UK.
Mr Mascall replied: “They would be arrested for the offence of murder.”
Mr Litvinenko, 43, died nearly three weeks after he consumed tea laced with polonium-210 on November 1, 2006 at the Millennium Hotel in London’s Grosvenor Square.
Mr Lugovoi and Mr Kovtun were named as the main suspects in 2007. Both deny any involvement and remain in Russia.
