Alexander Litvinenko’s widow Marina calls for Vladimir Putin travel ban

Source: BBC

Alexander Litvinenko’s wife Marina has called on British prime minister David Cameron to impose economic sanctions and travel bans on Russian president Vladimir Putin. She also said she wanted to see the immediate expulsion of all Russian intelligence operatives based at the London embassy.

“I’m of course very pleased that the words my husband spoke on his deathbed when he accused Mr Putin of his murder have been proved true in an English court with the high standards of independence and fairness,” she said while speaking at Matrix Law Chambers in central London. “But now it is time for David Cameron. I’m calling immediately for the expulsion from the UK of all Russian intelligence operatives ... based in the London embassy.

“I am also calling for the imposition of targeted economic sanctions and travel bans against named individuals including Mr Patrushev (former FSB chief Nikolai) and Mr Putin.” Mr Litvinenko made a statement two days before his death in November 2006 naming Mr Putin as the person responsible for his death. A list of names and organisations implicated in the killing has been handed to the British government calling for sanctions, Ben Emmerson QC said.

“The list includes all individuals who are identified in the report as being associated with the murder as well as a number of institutions implicated in it,” he added. He said: “It would be craven of the government and prime minister to do nothing in response.

“It would be an abdication of his responsibilities to do what is, after all, the first function of a state, which is to keep its people safe.” Mrs Litvinenko received a letter from the British home secretary that promised the government is still “seeking justice and holding Russia to account”, he added. She demanded to know who gave the polonium to her husband’s killers.

Read more: http://www.irishexaminer.com/world/alexander-litvinenkos-widow-marina-calls-for-vladimir-putin-travel-ban-377660.html