Moscow officially refused in early July to extradite Andrei Lugovoi, accused by Scotland Yard of killing the ex-Russian security officer and Kremlin critic in London in November. The row has escalated into diplomatic expulsions and harsh rhetoric on both sides.
"A terrible murder has been committed in London. I believe Britain and Russia should cooperate. Unfortunately, such cooperation is impossible at the moment, but we are still expecting Russia to respond," Anthony Brenton said, speaking Russian, on the Ren-TV channel Monday night.
Brenton said Moscow's arguments against the extradition request were unconvincing. Moscow has said the Russian Constitution does not allow the extradition of Russian nationals and complained that Britain has failed to provide evidence substantiating Lugovoi's role in the murder.
Litvinenko was reported to have died of poisoning from radioactive polonium allegedly dropped into his coffee at a London hotel. Lugovoi, former Kremlin bodyguard-turned-businessman, met with him on the day and in the place where the crime is alleged to have occurred.
Asked to comment on the arrest of a Russian in London June 21 on suspicion of plotting to kill fugitive Russian oligarch and Moscow critic Boris Berezovsky, and his release without charge and deportation two days later, Brenton said he was not "an expert on the matter."
The anchorman asked why the evidence garnered by police was not enough to charge the Russian national, but enough to fan a scandal in the media.
"Thank God, I am not responsible for what our press says," Brenton said. He also said Britain had handed over material on the case to Russia, but gave no further details.
