Russia denied on Friday that it had a role in the death of Kremlin critic and former spy Alexander Litvinenko in London six years ago, dismissing a statement made during a British inquest into his fatal poisoning with radioactive polonium-210.
Allegations of Russian state involvement are unfounded and Moscow hopes an investigation conducted "transparently and without prejudice" will put them to rest, Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said. He acknowledged Litvinenko's death was still troubling relations.
"We hope that as a result of the investigation — on condition, of course, that it is conducted transparently and without prejudice — all the baseless allegations about some kind of Russian involvement in this affair will be dispelled once and for all," he told journalists at a weekly briefing. (Reuters)
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.