The saga of spy murdering spy continues to hunt Anglo-Russian relationship. The assassination of a Russian spy in London by using chemicals has to pass through many tests before being finally judged. In the latest episode, Russia has decided to investigate into alleged British spying on its soil.
The decision came in the wake of allegations made by Andrei Lugovoi, the prime suspect accused to be involved in the murder of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko. Mr Litvinenko died aged 43 after being exposed to the radioactive isotope polonium-210. It led to a public outrage in the UK. But, a spokesman for the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) told the media that a criminal case had been registered based on remarks and disclosure by Andrei Lugovoi.
Few days back, Lugovoi speaking against his extradition demand by the British prosecution for the poisoning of Litvinenko in November 2006 disclosed that the slain KGB agent was working as a double spy for the UK authorities. He claimed that Litvinenko and Boris Berezovsky, a known detractor of Russian President Vladmir Putin, now in exile in the UK, had contacts with the British foreign intelligence agency.
However, the British embassy in Moscow was quick enough to shrug off any such accusation of cross-intelligence discord.
Mr Litvinenko, an ex-spy of former USSR left the country in the late 90s to settle in London. Since then, Russian Government has been accusing the British spy agency M-16 as having collusion with him to get access to secret Russian military programs. His friend and now prime suspect in his murder case Mr Lugovoi, a Russian businessman, on the other hand is accused by the British authorities working as a Russian undercover agent.
The investigation is to look into alleged activities by the British intelligence services within Russian territory. The FSB defended Lugovoi’s right as a Russian citizen to disclose anything that is against the national interest.
On the other hand, the British officials describing the incident as a just criminal matter outside the domain of intelligence reiterated the demand for extraditing Lugovoi for trial in the murder of Litvinenko, who was a naturalized British citizen.
Russia’s firm denial of any extradition bid by the UK and the insistence by the later for trial under the British system is only adding to the blame-game. As both the countries are hell-bent on getting their demand through, the relation is worsening. The presence of Russian oligarchs accused of anti-government agenda on the English soil is the main reason of conflict at the diplomatic level.
Via: BBC
