The Mysterious Mario Scaramella

Last month, Mario Scaramella came to international prominence as he happened to be the last man to meet the ex-KGB colonel Alexander Litvinenko before he became ill from polonium poisoning. Litvinenko died on Nov. 23.Scaramella has been described in the media as an Italian lawyer, academic and international security consultant. Professor Mario Scaramella has an impressive resume. Despite his young age, he is said to have taught in prestigious institutions around the globe. He claims to be an expert in nuclear weapons and nuclear waste. Last but not least, he possesses a deep understanding of KGB activities during the Cold War and has advised several agencies on counter-intelligences issues.

While working as a consultant for the Mitrokhin Commission, which investigated KGB activities in Italy, he met Litvinenko, who reportedly told him that current Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi was the KGB's top man in Italy. On Nov. 1, he met Litvinenko in London to warn him that he had received a couple of emails revealing, among other things, that their names figured on a Russian hit list. There is just one problem. On closer look, all of his credentials and all of his allegations happen to be unsubstantiated. Read full story

The Litvinenko Affair

On Nov. 1, the day he felt ill, Litvinenko met Scaramella at the Itsu sushi restaurant in Piccadilly. Scaramella is an Italian academic and security expert. He is a consultant for the Guzzanti Commission which investigates Soviet infiltration during the Cold War. He is known to have contact with top officers of the FSB and is rumored to work for Italian, U.S. and Colombian Intelligence agencies. According to the police, checks of the restaurant are completed.The police are still searching the Pine Bar and fourth floor rooms at the Millennium Hotel in Grosvenor Square. On Nov. 1, prior to his meeting with Scaramella, Litvinenko met two Russian citizens. Andrei Lugovoi is a former KGB agent and currently runs a private security firm in Moscow. He was accompanied by Dmitry Kovtun. Read full story