Russia, Britain clash over Litvinenko murder suspect

MOSCOW: Moscow and London locked horns on Friday over where to try the chief suspect in the murder of Russian ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko, with each side insisting justice should be served on its own soil.   

The clash over where to hold the trial of ex-KGB agent Andrei Lugovoi, wanted by Britain for the poisoning of Litvinenko in London last year, has deepened a diplomatic crisis between the two states over the killing.   

"I told British Attorney-General (Peter) Goldsmith today that if the British side presents us with evidence of Lugovoi's guilt and we consider it sufficient, he may be brought to justice" in Russia, Justice Minister Yury Chaika told the Interfax news agency.   

Russia insists that its constitution forbids extraditing its citizens to face justice abroad. But Britain has pointed to an agreement signed last year between the two countries allowing for extradition.   

Shortly after Chaika's comments, Goldsmith fired back in a statement, saying: "This murder was committed on UK soil, the evidence is in the UK, a UK citizen was killed and other people put at risk and it is therefore right a suspect should face justice in a UK court."   

Litvinenko, a Kremlin critic who accused the Russian secret service of orchestrating bombings in 1999 that killed hundreds of civilians, received political asylum in Britain and British citizenship before his murder.   

Goldsmith said that he had stressed "the full seriousness of the crime" to Chaika, and that Britain would submit a full extradition request shortly.   

The two held talks on Friday at a meeting of G8 justice ministers in Munich, Germany.   

The murder sent shockwaves through British society, where hundreds of people were tested for radiation exposure after investigators established that Litvinenko was poisoned with the rare radioactive isotope polonium-210.   

Suspicion soon focused on Lugovoi, who met with Litvinenko in a London hotel on November 1, and later left a trail of polonium traces across Europe while travelling back to Russia.   

Lugovoi -- a Soviet KGB officer who specialised in bodyguard duties and now owns a security company and soft drinks factory -- has angrily asserted his innocence.   

Litvinenko died in agony on November 23 from the poisoning. A final letter distributed by friends accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of ordering the assassination.    

The Kremlin denies any involvement.