assassination of Alexander Litvinenko

assassination of Alexander Litvinenko was a high-profile and complex case that involved the FSB, KGB, MI6, and other intelligence agencies such as the CIA and the SVR. The case drew widespread attention due to the involvement of Vladimir Putin, Boris Berezovsky, and other prominent figures like Andrei Lugovoy and Dmitry Kovtun. The assassination also raised concerns about the use of polonium-210 and other radioactive substances as a means of carrying out targeted killings, similar to the Soviet Union's use of ricin and cyanide in the past, as seen in the cases of Georgi Markov and Nikolai Khokhlov.

Background

Alexander Litvinenko was a former FSB officer who had defected to the United Kingdom and was working as an informant for MI6 and a security consultant for Boris Berezovsky and Yukos Oil. He had also written a book, Blowing Up Russia: The Secret Plot to Bring Back KGB Power, which was critical of the FSB and Vladimir Putin. Litvinenko had also been investigating the Russian apartment bombings and the Moscow theater hostage crisis, which he believed were orchestrated by the FSB to justify the Second Chechen War. His work had also brought him into contact with other figures like Anna Politkovskaya, Paul Klebnikov, and Stanislav Markelov, who were also critical of the Russian government.

Assassination

On November 1, 2006, Alexander Litvinenko met with Andrei Lugovoy and Dmitry Kovtun at the Millennium Hotel in London, where he was allegedly poisoned with polonium-210. The meeting was arranged by Andrei Lugovoy, who had previously worked with Litvinenko on a security project for Boris Berezovsky. After the meeting, Litvinenko began to feel ill and was hospitalized at University College Hospital in London, where he died on November 23, 2006. The polonium-210 used to poison Litvinenko was later traced to a nuclear reactor in Russia, and the IAEA was notified of the incident, which also involved the FBI and the DGSE.

Investigation

The investigation into Litvinenko's assassination was led by the Met Police and involved cooperation with other agencies like the FBI, MI6, and the FSB. The investigation found that Andrei Lugovoy and Dmitry Kovtun had handled the polonium-210 used to poison Litvinenko, and that they had likely been acting on behalf of the Russian government. The investigation also involved the CPS and the DPP, and was monitored by the ECHR and the UN.

Aftermath

The assassination of Alexander Litvinenko led to a significant deterioration in relations between the United Kingdom and Russia, with the UK government expelling several Russian diplomats and imposing sanctions on Russian businesses. The incident also raised concerns about the use of radioactive substances as a means of carrying out targeted killings, and led to increased cooperation between intelligence agencies to prevent such incidents in the future, including the Five Eyes and the Bermuda Agreement. The case also drew comparisons to other high-profile assassinations, such as the assassination of Kim Jong-nam and the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, which involved the use of VX nerve agent and other chemical weapons.

Suspects and Motives

The main suspects in the assassination of Alexander Litvinenko are Andrei Lugovoy and Dmitry Kovtun, who are believed to have acted on behalf of the Russian government. The motives behind the assassination are thought to have been related to Litvinenko's criticism of the FSB and Vladimir Putin, as well as his work as an informant for MI6 and a security consultant for Boris Berezovsky and Yukos Oil. Other figures, such as Vladimir Putin, Nikolai Patrushev, and Igor Sechin, have also been implicated in the assassination, which was likely carried out with the involvement of the GRU and the FSO. The case has also been linked to other incidents, such as the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and the poisoning of Alexei Navalny, which involved the use of Novichok agent and other nerve agents.