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Putin Is A Dictator And A Ruthless Killer
- An English court found that Russian president Vladimir Putin “probably approved” the assassination of a former Russian spy in 2006.
- They believe that the order was carried out by two Russian politicians, Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun, who have since been rewarded in Russia.
- The victim, Alexander Litvinenko, was a former KGB colleague of Putin and who had been very vocal in his criticisms of Putin.
- Russia refuses to extradite the two politicians and this is expected to worsen international relations between the countries.
The deadly poisoning of a former Russian spy in London a decade ago was “probably approved” by Vladimir Putin, according to a judicial report released Thursday, a conclusion that confirmed long-held suspicions that the high-profile case bore all the hallmarks of a Kremlin hit.
Alexander Litvinenko, who had turned on his former KGB colleague Putin, died three weeks after drinking tea laced with polonium-210 at a London hotel in November 2006. The cause of death was acute radiation syndrome, and his rapid decline touched off a frantic effort to find out if anyone else in the British capital was exposed to the deadly toxin.
There is a “stong possibility” that Russia's FSB security service, the successor agency to the notorious KGB, directed the killing, Judge Robert Owen wrote in his 326-page report. And the rubout would not have occurred without the likely approval of not only then-FSB head Nikolai Patrushev, but also Putin himself, the report stated.
The report, which is expected to further strain diplomatic relations between the nations, named Russian politicians Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun as the suspects who carried out the poisoning. Both returned to Russia.
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Putin even rewarded Lugovoi last year with a medal for “services to the motherland,” recognizing “courage and bravery displayed in the performance of his professional duty under conditions fraught with risk for his life.” An attorney for Litvinenko's widow called it “the clearest possible message” Putin sided with Lugovoi.
Moscow has long denied a role in the murder of Litvinenko, who “had repeatedly targeted President Putin” with “highly personal” public criticism and charges of corruption, the report noted. Litvinenko had fled to Great Britain in 2000 and was granted asylum after breaking with Putin and his inner circle.
From his hospital bed, Litvinenko, who was 44, pointed a dying finger at Putin, but the new report marks the first time the Russian president has been officially linked to the killing.
Litvinenko's widow, Marina, said outside the High Court Thursday that she was “very pleased that the words my husband spoke on his deathbed when he accused Mr. Putin have been proved by an English court.”
She called for British Prime Minister David Cameron to take urgent steps against Russian agents operating inside Britain in light of the report.
“I'm calling immediately for expulsion from the UK of all Russian intelligence operatives … based at the London embassy,” she said. “I'm also calling for the imposition of targeted economic sanctions and travel bans against named individuals including Mr. (former FSB chief Nikolai) Patrushev and Mr. Putin.”
She said Britain's Home Office had written to her Wednesday night promising action.
Home Secretary Theresa May is scheduled to discuss the report in Parliament later Thursday.
British police have accused Dmitry Kovtun and Andrei Lugovoi of carrying out the killing, sponsored by elements in the Kremlin. Both deny involvement, and Moscow refuses to extradite them.
Lugovoi is a member of the Russian parliament, which means he is immune from prosecution. In an interview with the Interfax news agency, he called the charges against him “absurd.”
“As we expected, there was no sensation,” he said. “The results of the investigation that were announced today once again confirm London's anti-Russian position and the blinkered view and unwillingness of the British to establish the true cause of Litvinenko's death.”
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zhakarova said Thursday that the government does not consider Owen's conclusions to be objective or impartial.
“We regret that a purely criminal case has been politicized and has darkened the general atmosphere of bilateral relations,” Zhakarova said in a statement. She said Britain's decision to hold a public inquiry on the case was politically motivated and that the process was not transparent for the Russian side or the public.
The British government appointed Owen to head a public inquiry into the slaying, which soured relations between London and Moscow. He heard from dozens of witnesses during months of public hearings last year, and also saw secret British intelligence evidence.
Announcing his findings at London's Royal Courts of Justice, Owen said that “there can be no doubt that Alexander Litvinenko was poisoned by Mr. Lugovoi and Mr. Kovtun” in the Pine Bar of London's luxury Millennium Hotel on Nov. 1, 2006. He also charged that the pair had failed in an attempt to poison Litvinenko weeks earlier.
Just last year, Kremlin involvement was suspected in the murder of an outspoken Putin critic in Russia and the near-fatal poisoning of another.
Boris Nemtsov was gunned down last February as he strolled near the Kremlin with a woman, and a close friend of his, Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr., a Washington resident who was in a hotel in Moscow when he suddenly lost consciousness May 26, was hospitalized with what his wife called “symptoms of poisoning.”
Kara-Murza, who recovered, is a coordinator for Open Russia, a nongovernmental organization and had on the previous day released a documentary film accusing close Putin crony and Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov of human rights abuses including torture and murder.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
20 Comments
I was led to believe that it was conjecture that Putin was responsible, according to the news, maybe I am wrong. It is quite possible that he was responsible.
It is strange this nation has turned out to be the dumping ground of every nation’s trash thereby polluting or nation with baggers who will become millionaires by sucking the life out of the social security fund paid into by hard working American’s from long ago till this day while these nations are be paid thousands of dollars per month mostly far more than the retired receiving a pittance makes a lot of sense.. There is a quota to follow so, quit this givaeway by not giving the ones who are waiting years to immigrate the way the setup is supposed to work for all entrants!!
You think the US government doesn’t do it?
I’ve always believed he behaved as an adolescent in method, behavior, & stature!!
And what about that Obomber in the White House who’s killed his enemies as well. Two limo drivers, Loretta Fuddy, and Joan Rivers for leaking that his wife is really a man?
HE IS NOT ANTI-SEMETIC AND OUR GOVERNMENT IS DELIBERTALY MAKING HIM A MONSTER. Look who is calling the kettle black…Obama? Kerry?
No, you’ve got the ‘leaders’ confused here. It’s Otreasonist who is the dictator and sociopathic, ruthless killer of loyal Americans, and Christians and Jews, both here in The U. S. of A. and abroad. As far as Omarxist-muslim is concerned, the more dead the better. Moreover, the Clinton Crime Family also fits the description to a T in oh so many, many ways. Are your eyes open? It’s obvious.
The word “probably ” is not conclusive. On the other hand obammy does kill !
Why would anyone in this Country give a shit????
THere by liesthe problem. What Putin may of authorised and what his secret service does, may have an impact on global matters. Already the UK and USA are sort of de faaccto allies in the war agianst Daesh (ISIL) so we shoudl be worried. If a country sends its agents to murder dissidents who are helping the host countries secret service, then this is sort of an act or war.
From many News articals I have readover the past 20+ years.
Is the English court holy ? Do the English are in the position to accuse with their own awfull past ? Does anyone really believe this is an objective trial ? Which party does the research ?
Its smells fishy after all these years…
The courts in the UK had no proof whatsoever. All innuendos, maybes, typical garbage from a socialist news organizations. Shame how easily you can accuse someone without proof. Hope he sues!!!!!!
It is obviously another distraction by the lying douche bags in government to take attention away from all their fuckups lately
Maybe because 100% of what the western media reports about Putin is a lie. Maybe because he is the only world leader left with any amount of integrity. Maybe because he is the only world leader who seems to have any kind of sanity. And I don’t care if he did or not, our president does it too (Breitbart or Hastings ring a bell?)
you think Vladamiri …….is a killer!!!!! most of the people at the top of governments .. FBI – CIA….etc ….are ones that issue “Killings” …not to mention the wars they love to start!….its part of their evil ways…..the same old story ……love vrs EVIL!!!
Remember ………………love will always prevail….
peace n love always……
Yes , I believe Ronald Regan had a pretty bad record for aiding South American dictators in the 80s.
If you watched “Who is Mister Putin” in Internet you would understand that he is criminal person. Russia is criminal country – power in the country in hands of criminals.
The EU and the USA are goading Putin into war. The plan for the USA, Iran and Turkey to destroy the Russian even further bu bogging him down in Syria fighting Iran and Turkey and ISIS will fail. Obama has already released the military petroleum reserve in order to drop oils prices so low that the discontent in Russia will force the takeover by a communist leader with the same goals as the USA and the EU. The Obama Administration is pushing for a war with Russia so that Russia can be forced to return to communism nd join the Obama Administration in establishing aOne World Communist Order. Want to know all the details? Contact me.
This man is doing MORE than our president to get rid of ISIS….This man is not gay, a liar, muslim , married to a man changed woman, wants to guide and help his country, and everything obutta isn’t…..I have more respect for him than the monkey in the White House.