The Polonium plot: Feature documentary

CBC News・2 minutes read

Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko was poisoned with polonium-210 in a London hotel, allegedly orchestrated by former Russian FSB agents Dimitri Kovtun and Andrei Lugovoi. Litvinenko accused Vladimir Putin of ordering his murder, highlighting strained UK-Russian relations and sparking questions about Putin's involvement despite his denial and protection of the suspected killers.

Insights

  • Litvinenko's poisoning at the Millennium Hotel in London by former Russian Secret Service agents Dimitri Kovtun and Andrei Lugovoi, who added polonium 210 to his tea, led to strained UK-Russian relations and raised suspicions of Vladimir Putin's involvement due to Litvinenko's history as a whistleblower on corruption and connections to Putin.
  • Despite Andrei Lugovoi's denial of involvement and Putin's protection of him, evidence points towards Putin as the mastermind behind Litvinenko's murder, with experts agreeing it couldn't have occurred without Putin's authorization, highlighting the challenges of dealing with a world leader suspected of personal involvement in assassinations, as Western countries, including the US, struggle to address Putin's authoritarian regime and alleged criminal activities.

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Recent questions

  • Who was Alexander Litvinenko?

    A Russian dissident and former secret service agent.

  • What was the cause of Alexander Litvinenko's death?

    Poisoning with highly radioactive polonium 210.

  • What was the political impact of Alexander Litvinenko's poisoning?

    Strained UK-Russian relations and raised questions about Putin's involvement.

  • What evidence linked Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun to the murder?

    Radioactive contamination in London and traced polonium to Moscow.

  • What was the response of Vladimir Putin to accusations of involvement?

    Denied personal involvement and criticized British investigations.

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Summary

00:00

"Russian Dissident Poisoned in London Hotel"

  • Victim: Alexander Litvinenko, a Russian dissident and former secret service agent critical of Vladimir Putin.
  • Alleged murderers: Dimitri Kovtun and Andrei Lugovoi, former Russian Secret Service agents turned private investigators.
  • Crime location: Millennium Hotel on Groves Square in London, November 1st, 2006.
  • Surveillance: Security camera at the hotel recorded Kovtun and Lugovoi entering the Pine Bar, ordering tea and gin and tonics.
  • Poisoning: Kovtun and Lugovoi added a small amount of highly radioactive polonium 210 to the tea pot.
  • Victim's arrival: Litvinenko entered the hotel lobby at 4:00 p.m., taking only a few sips of the poisoned tea.
  • Effects of poison: Litvinenko became violently ill after midnight, suffering for 23 days before succumbing to the poison.
  • Accusation: Litvinenko accused Vladimir Putin of ordering his poisoning, publicly naming him on the day of his death.
  • Political impact: Litvinenko's poisoning strained UK-Russian relations and raised questions about Putin's involvement.
  • Background: Litvinenko's history as a Russian intelligence officer, his whistleblowing on corruption, and his escape to the UK due to threats.

18:25

Russian Dissident Lawyer Exposes Kremlin Assassination Plot

  • Mel Trashin, a Russian dissident lawyer, wrote a letter detailing the Russian secret police's plan to kill Alexander Litvinenko as a warning to those who criticize the FSB and the country's leadership.
  • Litvinenko believed that fighting against the system was impossible and that if the Kremlin decided to kill him, he would have no chance of survival.
  • Andrei Lugovoi, a former Russian FSB agent, proposed a partnership with Litvinenko to sell information from Moscow contacts, leading to a failed murder attempt in London in 2006.
  • Litvinenko was involved in an investigation of criminal activity linked to Vladimir Putin, revealing connections between Russian gangsters and Putin himself.
  • The killers of Litvinenko left a trail of radioactive contamination in London, with evidence showing contamination on chairs, tables, and a teapot.
  • Polonium used to poison Litvinenko was traced back to a nuclear reactor near Moscow, with each batch having a unique chemical composition revealing its origin.
  • The polonium was brought to London by Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun, leading to a failed murder attempt at a security company in London.
  • Litvinenko fell ill after the first murder attempt, with symptoms resembling chemical poisoning, and was later taken to a hospital where doctors struggled to identify the cause.
  • The murderers believed the polonium's alpha radiation would go undetected, but it was only discovered shortly before Litvinenko's death, leading to his burial in a lead-lined coffin.
  • Andrei Lugovoi maintained his innocence despite the evidence linking him to the murder, displaying a cold and calculating demeanor during interactions with journalists.

36:04

Putin's Role in Litvinenko Murder Investigation

  • Vladimir Putin has protected L voy and denounced the British investigations as biased against Russia, with the inquiry being initiated under pressure from certain individuals in Britain wanting to attack Russia amid the Ukraine crisis.
  • Putin's critics, including Boris nof, have continued to die, with the inquiry raising questions about Putin's involvement in Alexander litvinenko's murder, despite Putin denying personal involvement in foreign assassinations.
  • Alexander litvinenko's son and widow believe all evidence points to Putin as the mastermind behind the murder, as experts agree it couldn't have happened without Putin's authorization due to the personal history between litvinenko and Putin.
  • Western countries, including the US, displayed a willful blindness towards Putin's authoritarian regime, with the US even seeking to reset relations with Moscow despite evidence linking the Russian government to litvinenko's murder, posing a challenge on how to handle a world leader believed to be personally guilty of murder.
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