U.K. Charges Ex-KGB with Poisoning

On Jan. 31 Scotland Yard handed their report on the investigation into the death of Alexander Litvinenko to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). After studying the evidence, prosecutors have decided to charge former KGB agent Andrei Lugovoi over Litvinenko's death."I have today concluded that the evidence sent to us by the police is sufficient to charge Andrei Lugovoy with the murder of Mr. Litvinenko by deliberate poisoning," Director of Public Prosecutions Ken Macdonald said.

"In those circumstances, I have instructed CPS lawyers to take immediate steps to seek the early extradition of Andrei Lugovoi from Russia to the United Kingdom, so that he may be charged with murder -- and be brought swiftly before a court in London," Macdonald added.The announcement is certain to add tension between London and Moscow. Since the beginning of this year, the relation between Russia and the West has steadily degraded. Last week's EU-Russia summit ended in acrimony after having exposed very clearly sharp divisions between the two sides. Moscow has already replied that extradition is not possible. Read full story