Russian prosecution speaks against exchanging Lugovoi for Berezovsky

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The Office of the Russian Prosecutor General does not consider the question of exchanging Russian businessman Andrei Lugovoi charged with murder of Alexander Litvinenko for tycoon Boris Berezovsky. As an official spokesperson announced today, “opinion of the State Duma member is a personal one and does not reflect official position of the Russian authorities.” Earlier, the proposal was made by Russian MP Vladimir Vasilyev. As it turned out today, the Office of the Prosecutor General did not even consider the issue, as such action is impossible from the point of view of the Russian law and, “first of all, the constitution that directly says that a Russian citizen cannot be extradited to another country,” Vzglyad newspaper quotes the official as saying.

London intends to seek extradition of Andrei Lugovoi from Russia. Businessman Lugovoi is charged by the UK Crown Prosecution Service with murder of ex-FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko. At the same time, Moscow is seeking extradition of tycoon Boris Berezovsky living in London charged by the Office of the Russian Prosecutor General with various offences.