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Day 6

Political fallout from the Litvinenko Inquiry

In the wake of a report indicating Vladimir Putin likely approved the murder of ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko, UK PM David Cameron faces strong political pressure to punish Russia. Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake tells Brent why he's calling for a harsh response.
CBC Radio ·
A man looks at a portrait of ex-spy Andrei Litvinenko by Russian artists Dmitry Vrubel and Viktoria Timofeyeva in the Marat Guelman gallery in Moscow May 22, 2007. (REUTERS)
Day 67:55Political fallout from the Litvinenko inquiry

Nearly a decade has passed since Alexander Litvinenko was assassinated in 2006 with a deadly dose of polonium-210. From his deathbed, the ex-KGB spy maintained that Vladimir Putin was responsible for his murder. Retired judge Sir Robert Owen affirmed Litvinenko's suspicion this week with a bombshell report indicating that Putin "probably" approved Litvinenko's poisoning. Russia has vehemently denied the allegations. 

Political fallout from the report was swift. Prime Minister David Cameron vowed to take tough action against Russia -- starting by freezing the assets of the spies who poisoned Litvinenko. Foreign diplomats warn that heightened Anglo-Russian tension could put the Syrian peace talks in jeopardy. But Tom Brake, the foreign affairs spokesperson for Britain's Liberal Democrats, says Cameron has not gone far enough. Brent talks to Tom about the case for harsher punishment against Russia.

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