Lugovi: I’m a scapegoat not James Bond
The government has refused to comment on allegations that British officials were responsible for the murder of Russian exile Alexander Litvinenko.
Andrey Lugovi, who has been charged for the murder of Mr Litvinenko, alleged the British government was indirectly involved in the killing, and further claimed Mr Litvinenko was a MI6 agent.
With relations between the two nations already under strain following Russia’s refusal to extradite Mr Lugovoi to face charges in the UK, his latest comments are set to further worsen relations.
Speaking at a press conference in Moscow – in his first statement since the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced it would charge him with the murder of Mr Litvinenko – Mr Lugovi said MI6 had also tried to recruit him in an “open attempt”.
He claimed the British security services had been recruiting Russian citizens in return for citizenship. Saying he was friends with Mr Litvinenko, he said the Russian exile had told him the British were “complete idiots” who would believe anything you told them.
But British experts on UK-Russian relations have quickly dismissed Mr Lugovoi’s claims, insisting they would not hold up under questioning. Although he has claimed to have evidence supporting his argument, Mr Lugovoi has refused to release it.
Moreover, he will not defend himself in a UK court, confirming he will not travel to the country. He claimed he had been willing to travel to London to meet with Scotland Yard, but said this would not be possible due to the CPS’ decision to press charges.
Mr Litvinenko died in November last year, after being poisoned with polonium 210. Mr Lugovi insisted he was being made into a scapegoat for the murder and said he was the victim of a “precipitous” British police investigation and a British media intent on portraying him as a Russian James Bond.
Mr Lugovi gave his press conference under tight security in the offices of a Russian news agency, interpreted as tacit support from the Kremlin, which tightly controls the media.
The Foreign Office refused to comment on his accusations, insisting it is a criminal matter and not about intelligence.
But with the Kremlin seen as in accord with Mr Lugovi, British-Russian relations are nearing a 20-year low.
