Stakes Raised In Row Over Litvinenko Trial

Britain could cease cooperation with Russia on several fronts after Downing Street condemned yesterday Russia’s refusal to extradite Andrei Lugovoy for allegedly killing Alexander Litvinenko.

A spokesman for Gordon Brown said that Moscow’s decision was “extremely disappointing”.

The alternative offer of a trial in Russia had been ruled out by Sir Ken Macdonald, QC, the Director of Public Prosecutions, on the ground that it would not meet standards of impartiality and fairness, he added.

The Downing Street spokesman said that Britain was now considering further options, which are expected to include withrawal of cooperation.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is to present a full report to Parliament next week on Russia’s decision, including listing the options available. These are expected to include withdrawal of cooperation in one or more of the many areas where the two countries work together, which include education, social affairs, trade and counter-terrorism information. A spokesman for the Foreign Office declined to give details of where cooperation might be withdrawn. “We don’t want to spell this out in advance,” he said.

Russian authorities confirmed that Mr Lugovoy would not be sent to Britain to face charges of killing Mr Litvinenko in a poison attack in London.

Mr Brown’s spokesman said: “Russia’s refusal to extradite Mr Lugovoy is extremely disappointing and we deeply regret that Russia has failed to show the necessary level of cooperation in this matter.”

The spokesman added: “The Director of Public Prosecutions carefully considered Russia’s offer of a trial in Russia later but concluded this was unacceptable.

“This was a crime that was committed in London, the evidence and the witnesses are in the United Kingdom and we do not have confidence that a trial in Moscow would meet the standards of impartiality and fairness that we would deem necessary. We are reviewing the situation and considering what further steps we can take.

He continued: “Russia is an important partner on many issues and we continue to seek a constructive relationship – but we need to carefully consider our range of cooperation.

“Russia has to accept it has responsibilities too. We do continue to seek a constructive relationship with Russia but this is a serious matter.”

A Foreign Office spokeswoman echoed the comments from Downing Street. “We have consistently said that the murder of Mr Litvinenko is a serious criminal matter. Hundreds of British citizens and visitors to the capital were put at risk. The Russian reply is unacceptable,” she said.

This year Tony Blair warned President Putin that if his country failed to live up to its international obligations it would have an impact on investment there.

Only last week Downing Street insisted that Britain expected full Russian cooperation over its extradition request. Russian officials, including President Putin, have repeatedly emphasised that Mr Lugovoy would not be extradited.

President Putin labelled the British request “stupidity” and said that the Russian constitution prohibits such a move.

The Crown Prosecution Service announced in May that it would seek the extradition of Mr Lugovoy to face trial for murder.

In a statement yesterday, Sir Ken said: “The Russian response has now been conveyed to us and the Russian authorities have declined to extradite Andrei Lugovoy.

“They have said that they are prepared to put Mr Lugovoy on trial in Russia if the evidence is forwarded to them. The allegation against Mr Lugovoy is that he murdered a British citizen by deliberate poisoning and that he committed this extraordinarily grave crime here in our capital city. The appropriate venue for his trial is therefore London.”

Mr Litvinenko died in a London hospital in November from a dose of the extremely rare radioactive substance polonium 210.

He was a fierce critic of the Russian regime and had close links with a network of expatriate dissidents in Britain and New York.

One member of the group is the billionaire Boris Berezovsky, who was granted political asylum in Britain despite efforts by the Russian Government to extradite him.

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