Updated | Putin 'probably' approved Litvinenko murder, public inquiry concludes
Alexander Litvinenko died in 2006, days after being poisoned with radioactive polonium-210, which he is believed to have drunk in a cup of tea.
Alexander Litvinenko died after being poisoned by radioactive material
The murder of former spy Alexander Litvinenko in 2006 was "probably" approved by President Vladimir Putin, a public inquiry has concluded.
Litvinenko died aged 43 in London in 2006, days after being poisoned with radioactive polonium-210, which he is believed to have drunk in a cup of tea.
Two Russian men, Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun, have denied killing him.
The judge, Sir Robert Owen, heard from 62 witnesses in six months of hearings and was shown secret intelligence evidence about Litvinenko and his links with British intelligence agencies.
Chairman Sir Robert Owen said it was likely Mr Putin signed off the killing following a long-running feud.
Two Russian men, Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun, have been accused of his murder. They deny killing him.
Sir Robert said the two suspects were probably acting under the direction of Moscow's FSB intelligence service.
Singling out then-FSB chief Nikolai Patrushev, alongside Putin, Sir Robert wrote in the 300 page report: "Taking full account of all the evidence and analysis available to me I find that the FSB operation to kill Litvinenko was probably approved by Patrushev and also by President Putin."
Litvinenko's widow Marina, who was speaking outside London's High Court, said 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".
