SK: investigation into Litvinenko’s death is absurd

The Investigative Committee responded to the decision of the High Court of London regarding the investigation into the death of Alexander Litvinenko, calling it political and absurd, according to the department’s website.

“In July 2014, it became obvious that the investigation into the death of Alexander Litvinenko had finally moved from the criminal legal to the political plane. When announcing on July 31, 2014, the postponement of the coroner's inquest until the completion of the so-called public inquiry, which in fact, as everyone was convinced, had never been public, the judge said that closed sessions would now allow him to “examine the issue of Russia’s responsibility as best as possible.” based on materials provided by British intelligence services. Thus, the culprit was assigned from the very beginning, and it was only necessary to simply adjust some so-called classified “facts” to it. That is, the absurdity lies in the very concept of a public investigation with facts closed to the public that can be manipulated in any way,” the Investigative Committee said in a statement.

The Investigative Committee notes that due to the fact that, in their opinion, the process was devoid of competition, they decided not to participate in it. The statement notes that the decision was made on the basis of “certain classified materials inaccessible not only to representatives of the Russian Investigative Committee, but also to the entire public.”

The High Court of London named State Duma deputy Andrei Lugovoi and businessman Dmitry Kovtun as those responsible for the murder of former FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko. In addition, the court noted that the murder of Litvinenko was likely approved by President Vladimir Putin and Nikolai Patrushev, then head of the FSB.

It is also reported that Interpol has issued arrest warrants for Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun. If Litvinenko and Kovtun find themselves in Europe, they will be arrested. In addition, their assets will be frozen, said British Home Secretary Theresa May.

Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov called the findings of the High Court of London a “quasi-investigation” as well as a manifestation of “elegant British humor,” RBC reports his words.

“Why quasi-investigation - because we are talking about certain judgments based on probability, on the use of the words possible and probable. Detailed terms are not allowed in our court practice, are not allowed in the court practice of other countries and cannot be perceived by us as a verdict in any part,” Peskov said.

In addition, Peskov refused to repeat the phrase that Russian special services did not kill Litvinenko.

“In 2006, I repeated the phrase you asked me like a mantra for many months. I don’t think it’s necessary to do this anymore,” he said.

Former FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko died of polonium poisoning on November 23, 2006. On November 1, 2006, he met with Lugovoi and Kovtun at the Millenium Hotel, at the meeting he drank tea, which was presumably poisoned.