Poison spy: Moscow embassy to be tested

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Former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko

Radiation tests are to be carried out at the British Embassy in Moscow as part of the investigation into the death of former spy Alexander Litvinenko.

The tests will be carried out in one room of the embassy by a team of experts who flew to Moscow yesterday from Britain.

Amid growing diplomatic tension, a Foreign Office spokesman said: "Precautionary tests are taking place in one room in the British Embassy in Moscow. They are just precautionary tests and they do not expect to find anything."

Nine Scotland Yard detectives flew to Russia yesterday to investigate the death of the former spy, who died on 23 November after being poisoned with the radioactive isotope Polonium-210.

The officers plan to interview several potential witnesses, including those who met the 43-year-old on the day he was poisoned.

However, they face judicial and political problems because Russian citizens cannot be extradited to stand trial outside their own country.

A spokesman for the Russian prosecutor general's office said: "According to the European Convention on extradition, and the Russian criminal procedure code, a Russian citizen cannot be given to another state for a trial. He can only be tried in the Russian Federation with the participation of the necessary foreign experts."

A local Russian police force is likely to escort the British detectives during their trip, which could last several days or even weeks.

Italian academic Mario Scaramella, who has also tested positive for polonium 210, is showing no symptoms of radiation poisoning.

University College Hospital, which is treating Mr Scaramella, who met Mr Litvinenko on the day he was poisoned said he remained "well".

 

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