Litvinenko widow urges sanctions against Russia and Putin

The widow of Russian ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko on Thursday called for sanctions against Russia and a travel ban on President Vladimir Putin after a British judge concluded Moscow was "probably" behind his murder.

Marina Litvinenko called "for the imposition of targeted economic sanctions and travel bans against named individuals including Mr Patrushev (former head of Russia's FSB security service) and Mr Putin."

She issued a direct message to British Prime Minister David Cameron, "calling immediately for (the) expulsion from the UK of all Russian intelligence operatives... based at the London embassy."

The widow added she was "very pleased that the words my husband spoke on his deathbed when he accused Mr Putin have been proved by an English court."

Litvinenko had directly accused Putin of involvement in his death in a statement from hospital shortly before he died.

British judge Robert Owen concluded that the operation to kill Litvinenko was "probably approved" by Putin, in a 300-page report published at the conclusion of public inquiry into the 2006 death.

Source: AFP