Litvinenko

Alexander Litvinenko (4 December 1962 – 23 November 2006) was a former officer of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) who became a vocal critic of the Russian government after defecting to the United Kingdom in 2000. Born in Voronezh, he served in the KGB/FSB in counterintelligence and organized crime work before leaving Russia. In exile, Litvinenko accused the Russian state of corruption and abuses within the security services and published writings and testimonies alleging state crimes.

In London, Litvinenko sought asylum and remained an outspoken commentator on Russian politics and security affairs. On 1 November 2006 he fell ill and died on 23 November from polonium-210 poisoning. His death prompted a police investigation and a formal homicide inquiry. Investigators traced polonium-210 to a source connected to Russia, and two Russian nationals, Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitri Kovtun, were identified as suspects by British prosecutors. Russia refused to extradite them.

In 2014–2016, the UK established the Litvinenko Inquiry, led by Sir Robert Owen, to establish the circumstances of the poisoning. The inquiry concluded that Litvinenko was killed as part of a Russian state operation, with Lugovoi and Kovtun acting on behalf of the Russian state. It found that the operation was almost certainly approved at the highest levels of the Russian government, though it did not name a specific individual as the orderer. The case highlighted concerns about the use of radioactive substances in assassinations and strained UK–Russia relations.

Litvinenko's death remains a focal point in discussions of political répression, espionage, and state-sponsored violence, and his writings and advocacy continued to influence debates on Russian security policy and exile dissidents.