2006. London. Poisoning of Aleksandr Litvinenko.
"Prosecutor General's officers visit Moscow radiation sickness hospital”. A Russian Prosecutor General's office minibus in Moscow hospital No. 6, which specializes in radiation sickness. Businessman Andrei Lugovoi, who closely contacted Alexander Litvinenko, is under observation here" by RIA Novosti archive, image #140143 / Aleksey Nikolskyi under CC-BY-SA 3.0
Alexander Litvinenko, a former Russian spy and a vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin, died on November 23, 2006, after being poisoned with the radioactive element Polonium-210. The incident occurred in London, where he had been living in exile for six years. The British police immediately began investigating the case, which attracted international attention.
Litvinenko's condition deteriorated quickly after he met with two former KGB agents, Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun, at a London hotel on November 1, 2006. He was hospitalized shortly thereafter, and his death led to a widespread search for the source of the Polonium-210.
Radiation was discovered in various locations in London, as well as on a plane that flew from Moscow to London on the day of the poisoning. Over 120 people who had come into contact with Litvinenko or been in the same locations as him were identified as having potentially been exposed to radiation, leading to fears of a wider public health crisis.
The investigation into Litvinenko's death led to a number of sensational revelations. A statement that Litvinenko had dictated from his deathbed implicated Putin in his poisoning, alleging that he was targeted for his criticism of the Russian president. Other allegations were made, including that the Polonium-210 had been smuggled into the UK in a teapot and that a sushi bar in London was a key location in the poisoning.
The investigation continued for several years, with a number of other incidents related to the case occurring during that time. In March 2007, a leading expert on Russian poisons was shot and seriously injured in Moscow. In January 2016, a British inquiry concluded that Putin "probably" approved the assassination of Litvinenko.
In September 2021, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Russia was behind Litvinenko's murder, leading to renewed international attention on the case. In June 2022, a suspect in the poisoning died of Covid-19 in Moscow, and the following December, it was reported that the Russian army had tried to recruit Litvinenko's son.
Throughout this time, Litvinenko's widow, Marina, has been a prominent advocate for justice in her husband's case. She has called for the expulsion of Russian spies from the UK and has been vocal about the need for accountability for those involved in the poisoning.
Written in part in collaboration with ChatGPT on March 24, 2023
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Sources for 2006. London. Poisoning of Aleksandr Litvinenko:
Russia: British Police Investigating Litvinenko Poisoning Case - RFERL November 20, 2006
Poisoned former KGB man dies in hospital - The Guardian November 23, 2006
Radiation found after spy's death - BBC News November 24, 2006
Radioactive element found in blood of Russian ex-spy - NewScientist November 24, 2006
Radiation Poisoning Killed Ex-Russian Spy - The New York Times November 24, 2006
Full statement by Alexander Litvinenko - CNN November 24, 2006
Poison with a familiar scent - Los Angeles Times November 26, 2006
Kildare incident linked to Litvinenko death - The Irish Times November 29, 2006
The KGB's Poisoning Methods - NPR November 29, 2006
Sushi bar identified as key link in poisoning - Independent December 1, 2006
Another Suspected Poisoning Of a Russian Deepens Mystery - The Wall Street Journal December 1, 2006
Russian Ex-Spy Lived in a World of Deceptions - The New York Times December 3, 2006
Radiation-Pattern Baldness - SLATE December 5, 2006
Litvinenko's Father Says Son Requested Muslim Burial - RFERL December 5, 2006
Russian Spy Mystery - DW December 10, 2006
Over 120 were exposed to Litvinenko poison - The Guardian January 11, 2007
Was Russian Ex-Spy Poisoned By Cup Of Tea? - CBS News January 26, 2007
Expert in Russian poisoning case is shot - NBC News March 2, 2007
THE KREMLIN'S LONG SHADOW - VANITY FAIR APRIL 2007
CHRONOLOGY - The death of Alexander Litvinenko - Reuters May 22, 2007
Litvinenko's widow denies spy's claim - Reuters June 2, 2007
President Putin ‘probably’ approved Litvinenko murder – BBC January 21, 2016
The Litvinenko Inquiry – Gov.UK January 21, 2016
The BBC’s Richard Galpin examines the key findings of the inquiry – BBC January 21, 2016
Litvinenko murder: Why would Putin want him dead? – BBC January 21, 2016
Long road to the truth for Litvinenko family – BBC January 21, 2016
Alexander Litvinenko: Profile of murdered Russian spy – BBC January 21, 2016
Litvinenko suspects Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun – BBC January 21, 2016
Litvinenko report: David Cameron condemns Russia over ex-spy – BBC January 21, 2016
Litvinenko suspects Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun – BBC January 21, 2016
Russian media conclude Litvinenko report falsified – BBC January 21, 2016
Marina Litvinenko: ‘Russian spies must be expelled from UK’ – BBC January 21, 2016
Litvinenko inquiry: Key findings – BBC January 21, 2016
What Alexander Litvinenko report means for UK-Russia relations – BBC January 22, 2016
The Polonium Trail - Sky News July 13, 2020
Russia Fatally Poisoned A Prominent Defector In London, A Court Concludes - NPR Septermber 21, 2021
Russia behind Litvinenko murder, rules European rights court - BBC News September 21, 2021
What is known about Litvinenko's fatal poisoning - DW November 24, 2021
Suspect in Litvinenko poisoning dies in Moscow, TASS reports - Reuters June 4, 2022
Alexander Litvinenko assassination suspect dies of Covid - The Guardian June 4, 2022
Russian man accused of Alexander Litvinenko killing dies of Covid-19 - Sky News June 4, 2022
What Happened to Marina Litvinenko and Where Is She Now? - Newsweek December 16, 2022
The True Story of 'Litvinenko' in Alexander's Wife Marina's Own Words - Newsweek December 16, 2022