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Litvinenko Murder Suspect to Run for Mayor of Olympic City

Lugovoy doesn't care if Brits skip 2014 Games

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 23, 2009 8:12 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Russia fought hard to win the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, reports the Los Angeles Times, and now a second battle is heating up: the race for mayor of the Black Sea resort town, which is beginning billions' worth of construction. Among the contenders are a media magnate with a KGB past, a deputy PM who's been blacklisted, and—most surprisingly of all—Andrei Lugovoy, the man internationally wanted for the 2006 polonium murder of Alexander Litvinenko.

Lugovoy, who cannot leave Russia due to a warrant for his arrest, said he was unafraid of an Olympic boycott by the "Anglo-Saxon empire," and illustrated the relationship between the US and Britain with a series of jokes about Jews. Another candidate called him a "murderer" and "a disaster for Russia," but Lugovoy didn't mince words in response. "I want to kick them in the head," he said. "I despise them."

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin ski at a slope outside the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009. Sochi will host the 2014 Olympics.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin ski at a slope outside the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009. Sochi will host the 2014 Olympics.   (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Nikolsky, Pool)
Andrei Lugovoy, the prime suspect in the killing of Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko, may run for mayor of the Russian resort of Sochi, which will host the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Andrei Lugovoy, the prime suspect in the killing of Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko, may run for mayor of the Russian resort of Sochi, which will host the 2014 Winter Olympics.   (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze)
Russian billionaire and former KGB spy Alexander Lebedev is also running for mayor of Sochi.
Russian billionaire and former KGB spy Alexander Lebedev is also running for mayor of Sochi.   (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev skis down a slope near the Black Sea resort of Sochi, southern Russia, Saturday, March 21, 2009.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev skis down a slope near the Black Sea resort of Sochi, southern Russia, Saturday, March 21, 2009.   (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Dmitry Astakhov, Presidential Press Service)
Andrei Lugovoy, the prime suspect in the killing of Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko, may run for mayor of the Russian resort of Sochi, which will host the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Andrei Lugovoy, the prime suspect in the killing of Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko, may run for mayor of the Russian resort of Sochi, which will host the 2014 Winter Olympics.   (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Rob
Mar 23, 2009 6:29 AM CDT
"I want to kick them in the head" A leader we can live with. Looks like Russia is still just a third world country with nukes.

Opposition candidate doused with ammonia
International Herald Tribune

Lebedev, newspaper owner, also in running
Telegraph (UK)

 
Russia • Alexander Litvinenko • Sochi • mayor • Andrei Lugovoy • 2014 Olympics • Russian elections

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