Russian prosecution ready to help London but not by extraditing Lugovoi

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The Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation considered a request made by the UK Home Office regarding extradition of Russian citizen Andrei Lugovoi for criminal proceedings on Alexander Litvinenko poisoning. It impossible to satisfy the request, the Russian prosecution officially notified the UK Home Office today. As REGNUM was informed at the Prosecutor General’s press office, the decision was made in accordance with Article 61 of the Russian constitution that rules out an opportunity to extradite a Russian citizen to another country and in accordance with point 1, Article 6 of the European Convention on Extradition of 1957.

At the same time, the Russian prosecution reiterated its readiness to render assistance to UK agencies in charge regarding investigations in accordance with international treaties, in which Russia and Great Britain participate as well as with the Russian law. In case, Russia receives a relevant request and is given materials of the investigation, the Russian Prosecutor general’s Office, in accordance with the European Convention on Extradition is ready to consider the documents in order to decide whether to bring charges against Andrei Lugovoi.

Earlier, Andrei Lugovoi was charged by the British prosecution with poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko, who had been granted political asylum in the UK.