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September 5, 2008 11:56:42 AM CDT

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Poisoning Suspect Runs for Parliament to Dodge Jail

Posted Sep 17, 07 6:45 AM CDT in World 

(Newser) – The Russian businessman accused of using radioactive polonium-210 to poison a critic of controversial President Vladimir Putin is trying to dodge prosecution by running for parliament, the London Times reports. The Kremlin has already refused to hand Andrei Lugovoi over to British officials, saying it would violate the Russian constitution. But if Lugovoi becomes a member of the Duma, he would also be immune to domestic prosecution.

Lugovoi has the second slot in a slate of candidates who will be seated if the ultra-nationalist Liberal Democratic Party of Russia wins in December. British officials believe Lugovoi  exposed Putin critic Alexander Litvinenko to lethal levels of polonium-210 in London, leading to a painful death. Lugovoi is expected to win votes from those who see him as a hero who killed a traitor.

Source Times (UK)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at his meeting with activists of pro-Kremlin youth organizations in Zavidovo, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) northwest of Moscow, Tuesday, July 24, 2007. President...   (Associated Press)
Russian businessman and former KGB agent Andrei Lugovoi is seen at a news conference in Moscow, Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2007. The radioactive poisoning of a former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko in Nov....   (Associated Press)
Russian businessman Andrei Lugovoi smiles entering the Ekho Moskvy radio in Moscow, Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2007. Lugovoi, the U.K.'s key suspect in the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, said Wednesday he had...   (Associated Press)
Russian businessman Andrei Lugovoi gestures speaking to Ekho Moskvy radio in Moscow, Friday, July 20, 2007. Russia announced Thursday it would send the four British diplomats home in retaliation for the...   (Associated Press)
Russian businessman Andrei Lugovoi gestures speaking to Ekho Moskvy radio in Moscow, Friday, July 20, 2007. Russia announced Thursday it would send the four British diplomats home in retaliation for the...   (Associated Press)
Russian businessman Andrei Lugovoi speaks at the Ekho Moskvy radio in Moscow, Friday, July 20, 2007. President Vladimir Putin said Thursday the escalating dispute with Britain over Russia's refusal to...   (Associated Press)
Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures speaking at his meeting with activists of pro-Kremlin youth organizations in Zavidovo, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) northwest of Moscow, Tuesday, July 24,...   (Associated Press)
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Russia  • United Kingdom  • Vladimir Putin  • Alexander Litvinenko  • poison  • Andrei Lugovoi  • Russians


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