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

Litvinenko Murder Suspects May Escape Charges

According to some sources, Scotland Yard will soon communicate its file to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). On the basis of this report, the CPS will decide whether Andrei Lugovoy and his associate Dmitry Kovtun should face prosecution.Last Friday, the Guardian quoted senior Whitehall officials saying that there is enough evidence to charge Lugovoy and that the British Government will soon seek his extradition.However, according to the Sunday Times, Scotland Yard will not prosecute Mr. Litvinenko's killers. On Jan. 16, officers from the Yard's Counter Terrorism Command met with Marina Litvinenko, the widow of the ex-FSB officer. They told her that they intended to close the case in spite of the fact that charges could be brought against Lugovoy and Kovtun. Read full story