Andrei Lugovoi - the interview

Updated on 22 May 2007

By Nick Paton Walsh

World Exclusive: Nick Paton Walsh talks to the man Britain is charging with the murder of Alexander Litvinenko.

Andrei Lugovoi agreed to speak exclusively to our foreign affairs correspondent Nick Paton Walsh in Moscow. This is a transcript of the translated interview:

Q: Mr Lugovoi. How do you respond to the prosecutor's statement?

At the moment I do not have an adequate answer because I can not fully understand the logic of British justice - in particular of the gentleman - or a lord, or a sir, I don't know - who made the statement regarding me today .

I can say that I am absolutely calm as I am absolutely innocent. The statement offered by the British prosecutors is no more than a version. I, on the other hand, am convinced that I did not kill Litvinenko.

Moreover, I am fully and deeply convinced that the British justice does not have any evidence. I also do not understand how they will claim I had a motive, and if there's no motive it's difficult to imagine they have a case.

Q: In Britain we are very proud of our independent judiciary. Why don't you come to Britain and stand trial there, put this evidence to the test?

I do not know how British courts work, but I can already draw conclusions from how the British prosecutors work and Scotland Yard. I thought they would address this matter seriously, but it looks like I was mistaken.

I think I will make some statements which, I am sure, will come as a sensation for, above all, British public opinion. That's all I can say.

Q: Do you think you could ever be extradited?

You know, I think not. Because, firstly, I am a Russian citizen, and second, why would they extradite me?

For what I did not do? Let the respected lords, mayors, peers, send me all the documents you have collected here to Moscow. We have people here who will look at them, including me and my lawyers.

Q: Who do you think killed Alexander Litvinenko?

I consider myself completely innocent. I blame myself only for hanging around the kind of people like Litvinenko and his circle at the time. That's what I blame myself for. Who is guilty? Look for them in London, not Moscow.

I begin to understand - especially after today's announcement - that, really, everything that happened to me and Litvinenko started to happen way before his death.

All that happened was planned. Planned phone calls, planned offers, planned - and sometimes strange - meetings. That's all that I can say.

Send this article by email

Recipient's email address

Your name