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A former FSB officer, Alexander Litvinenko, died November 23 in a London hospital. Dmitry Kovtun, his former colleague turned businessman, met with Litvinenko in the British capital shortly before he fell ill, and was himself later diagnosed with radioactive poisoning. "Alongside several other versions behind this crime, we are seriously considering the possibility that Litvinenko's death could have been connected to the illegal trade in nuclear materials," a police source told the German newspaper Berliner Zeitung, adding that no clear evidence had been uncovered yet. Police in Hamburg launched an investigation into Kovtun after traces of radiation were detected at several sites he visited between October 28 and November 1, including at his ex-wife's apartment. German investigators suspect Kovtun, who has a German residence permit, of illegally transporting nuclear materials. In Russia, Kovtun is being treated as a witness in the case of Litvinenko, an FSB defector and outspoken Kremlin critic with ties to exiled Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky. Berliner Zeitung quoted experts among German law enforcement officials as estimating that the dose of polonium-210 believed to have caused Litvinenko's death was worth about $25 million. The German newspaper referred to speculation in the Russian press that Litvinenko could have been involved in plans by Chechen separatists to create a "dirty bomb" with the help of depleted radioactive materials. The reports said polonium-210 could have been transported illegally to London for the purpose. "We know that there has been a demand for nuclear materials in terrorist circles for several years," the newspaper's police source said, adding that Litvinenko's partners could have been involved in smuggling schemes. "So we are carefully watching these circles now," the source said, noting, however, that no offers for polonium-210 had been tracked so far on the black market because the substance was too expensive. Interpol said it would join British and Russian investigators studying various scenarios in Litvinenko's death. Polonium Poisoning Cases in Germany
He said a medical examination will show if their organisms contain a dangerous concentration of the radioactive element. Authorities did not identify them by name. Businessman Dmitry Kovtun met with defector Alexander Litvinenko around the time of his poisoning at the beginning of November. Litvinenko, an outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin's administration and a close associate of fugitive oligarch Boris Berezovsky, died in a London hospital after four days in a critical condition. His body was found to contain a lethal dose of radioactive polonium-210. Kovtun is now reported to have been hospitalized with similar symptoms. Investigators also said traces of polonium-210 have been found on Kovtun's clothes and some articles in his former wife's Hamburg apartment, as well as in other apartments in Hamburg which he visited between October 28 and November 1. Representatives of the investigative team also said "they have almost no doubt that Dmitry Kovtun brought polonium from Moscow." British detectives, currently in Moscow for their probe into Litvinenko's murder, earlier spoke with Kovtun through their Russian counterparts. Russian prosecutors may fly to London soon to probe the lethal poisoning of the former security service officer, a source close to the investigation said. Russian prosecutors launched a criminal investigation in parallel with the Scotland Yard-led probe into the killing of Litvinenko, who died of radioactive poisoning November 23, after a related murder attempt was allegedly made on one of his Russian contacts. "The departure date has not yet been fixed, but most likely it will be in the next few days," the source said. Experts from Scotland Yard arrived in Moscow to interview people who met with Litvinenko around the time of his poisoning. The source said that Russian investigators would question businessman and former Federal Protection Service officer Andrei Lugovoi, another key witness, who met the former Russian agent in London on the day of his poisoning. "His testimony may have a major effect on the course of the investigation, and investigators may have more questions, which can only be answered in London," the source said. In December, Russian and British investigators spoke with Kovtun, but Lugovoi's questioning was postponed several times, and he was finally questioned recently. Lugovoi refused to reveal what Russian prosecutors and Scotland Yard officers asked him. "It is a secret of the investigation and I cannot divulge such information," Lugovoi told RIA Novosti, adding that he gave comprehensive answers to questions he was asked and that he is ready to meet with law enforcement officers once again if need be. However, an inside source said investigators were interested in when, where, and with what purpose Lugovoi met with Litvinenko. Litvinenko defected to the U.K. in 2000 and received British citizenship earlier this year. Lugovoi and his business partner Dmitry Kovtun were hospitalized and screened for radiation. Lugovoi had gone to see the former Russian agent in London together with Kovtun. Some media have been reporting that Kovtun's health has drastically deteriorated, but Lugovoi said Kovtun's condition is stable. Earlier, Lugovoi said the results of his own tests for radiation will be announced by the end of the week. Western media have suggested the Po-210 used to poison Litvinenko might have been produced in the hotel room where Lugovoi stayed on a recent visit to London. The potential suspect has consistently denied any involvement in the poisoning of the defector, and has expressed his willingness to cooperate with investigators. |
