Litvinenko Suspect Happy To Meet PM In Russia - Sky News

6:33am UK, Saturday September 10, 2011

Amanda Walker, Moscow correspondent

Ahead of David Cameron's visit to Moscow next week, the chief suspect in the murder of dissident spy Alexander Litvinenko says he thinks it is the British Prime Minister's "dream" to move on from the issue.

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Alexander Litvinenko died in a London hospital nearly five years ago after being poisoned with Polonium 210.

His death caused the biggest fallout between Britain and Russia since the Cold War.

In London Andrei Lugovoi is wanted for Litvinenko's murder. In Moscow he sits in Russia's parliament and runs a restaurant with his daughter.

Tanned and smiling he proudly shows us the open kitchen in the rustic dining area. His assistant asks if we have questions about Litvinenko. She must realise it is inevitable - Lugovoi's name has become synonymous with the whole affair.

Alexander Litvinenko died after being poisoned with Polonium 210

He maintains that he did not poison Alexander Litvinenko. He says Britain should stop demanding his extradition and that Mr Cameron himself longs to drop the issue.

In broken English he said: "I am sure that this is the dream of Cameron - don't speak about me."

Reverting to his native tongue he added: "It looks idiotic. For the last four years the first question from every British politician has been about me - despite the fact that Britain is the biggest investor in the Russian economy."

He jokes that he hasn't been invited to meet David Cameron on the visit but would happily do so.

I know the life of one person cannot be compared with something much bigger but this is life! It is just so big - you cannot say how much it cost. I think they will continue to seek justice for my husband.

Marina Litvinenko

For Scotland Yard there is little that is funny about Lugovoi's position - soon after Litvinenko's murder he became their chief suspect.

A call was made for his extradition - Russia refused and instead gave him a seat in the Duma, Russia's lower parliament.

On his deathbed, Litvinenko accused then president Vladimir Putin of ordering his murder, a claim the Kremlin denied.

Mr Cameron is expected to be the first British leader to meet Mr Putin since that allegation.

Many believe Russia's macho prime minister is priming himself for another term as president.

Political analyst Lillia Shevtsova has said that during an election period getting too cosy with the West won't be on the campaign to-do list: "When the Russian leaders - especially Putin - are campaigning they are usually using anti-western sentiments so there is no basis for any warm feeling toward any country."

Alexander Litvinenko's widow Marina is aware that issues like trade, Libya and Syria will dominate David Cameron's visit to Moscow but said she is confident the British Government will not let her down.

"I know the life of one person cannot be compared with something much bigger but this is life. It is just so big - you cannot say how much it cost. I think they will continue to seek justice for my husband."

But as the world moves on any real hope of justice for Alexander Litvinenko will inevitably fade.