This is the January 2007 report on the conspiracy tales moving as a result of the alleged assassination of a former Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) agent, Alexander Litivnenko, through the rather exotic means of poisoning with Polonium-210. This is a continuation of my overly long previous post.
On 1 January the Blog TPMCafe linked to a long conspiracy piece by Michael S. Woodson
"Over at the Nixon Center's National Interest online, Prof. Dimitry Simes wrote an analysis of the Litvinenko case entitled, "Litvinenko: Kremlin Conspiracy or Blofeld Set-Up?" If you like conspiracy this is enjoyable."
6 - 7 January 2007 assertions began to appear in the blogosphere that Scotland Yard knew who had killed Litvinenko. This ArcaMax page is an example.
The item that a movie on Litvinenko is being developed by Johnny Depp's company based on an as yet unwritten book, whose rights have been bought by Warner Brothers began to circulate extensively.
17 January 2007 - There are several references building up that British investigators wanted to return to Russia to interview Andrei Lugovoi, Dimitry Kovtun and Vyacheslav Sokolenko. As a counter point the Russians were making requests to do their own interviews of tycoon Boris Berezovsky and Chechen rebel envoy Akhmed Zakayev
The online Moscow Times has the most extensive description of the deal under discussion.
18 January 2007 - An intriguing sub-conspiracy getting some cover, is Litvinenko was assassinated by a shadowy group operating as a resurgent Communist Party of Soviet Union. This group has the goal of covering Putin's takeover of Russia and the recapture of the break away republics to rebuild the Soviet Empire (aka USSR) This link is a little more readable than others I have looked at
A UK Times on-line, January 20 article gives a detailed description of how Litvinenko was killed by a professional killer who was captured on airport surveillance cameras both entering and leaving the country. There is speculation on how passports were used and discarded and how the fatal dose of polonium-210 was administered. There is a slight aroma of authority about this story but no confirmation outside of previously identified conspiracy theorists.
A January 25 - A short discussion on the "real" price of Polonium-210 is the subject of a short piece in the 26 January 07 online Russian News & Information Agency (RNA Novosti). Basic assumption is the cost of the lethal dose found in Litvinenko would have cost thousands, not millions.
The New Zealand, Weekend Herald carries a 26 January 2007 story, datelined Moscow, with Andrew Osborn's byline that covers the speculation by Oleg Gordievsky that three more polonium deaths should occur within five years. One is the Identified, but as yet unnamed, killer; and the two Russian business men Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitri Kovtun, who had several meetings with Litvinenko before his death.
A 28 Jan 2007 France24.com carries a AFP article that reflects several reports that the British police are satisfied that they have solved the Litvinenko case but have no hope extraditing their suspects (Andrei Lugovoi and Dimitri Kovtun) from Russia for prosecution.
A piece by Vika Bruk in online the eXile is an interesting view of young Russian exiles in London view the Litvinenko affair. In a word "Who?"
31 Jan 07 In the News online. UK police concludes investigation and hands over to prosecutors
Contains an unsourced statement that the British government would request the extradition of former Russian security operative Andrei Lugovoi to stand trial for Mr Litvinenko's murder. A UPS International piece reports the same turn over of the case to the prosecutors but with a less precise identification of who might be the target if prosecution proceeds
Why is conspiracy in the criminal codes among the 50 states?
On 1 January the Blog TPMCafe linked to a long conspiracy piece by Michael S. Woodson
"Over at the Nixon Center's National Interest online, Prof. Dimitry Simes wrote an analysis of the Litvinenko case entitled, "Litvinenko: Kremlin Conspiracy or Blofeld Set-Up?" If you like conspiracy this is enjoyable."
Posted by: Mike Woodson | Feb 16, 2007 at 12:23 AM