MOSCOW (AP) — The main suspect in the poisoning of former Russian agent turned Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko in London has withdrawn from the British inquest into his death.
Alexander Lugovoi said Tuesday that he would no longer cooperate with the inquest because political pressure and state secrecy in Britain were preventing him from getting a fair trial.
Litvinenko died in London in November 2006 after drinking tea laced with the radioactive isotope polonium-210. His family says he was working for Britain's intelligence services, and believes the Russian state was behind his death.
Britain has named Lugovoi, a former KGB officer and Russian lawmaker who met Litvinenko hours before he fell ill, and businessman Dmitry Kovtun as the main suspects. Both deny their involvement and have refused to attend the inquest.
