Lugovoi seeks parliament refuge
Sunday, 16 Sep 2007 18:10
Russia has repeatedly refused to extradite Mr Lugovoi
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Alexander Litvinenko murder suspect Andrei Lugovoi is seeking election to the Russian parliament.
The retired KGB bodyguard, whose refused extradition prompted the heightening of diplomatic tensions between Russia and the UK, will be immune from prosecution if he is elected to Russia's lower house.
He will stand for the right-wing Liberal Democratic party of nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky in the December elections as the party's number two candidate.
The Interfax news agency quoted Mr Zhirinovsky as saying Mr Lugovoi "just volunteered" for the opportunity.
"We've known him for a long time and we can enter him on the party's electoral list. All of Lugovoi's story with Britain is an attempt to organize provocations against our citizens."
Mr Lugovoi has been charged with the murder of former Russian spy Mr Litvinenko last November but cannot stand trial because Russian authorities will not extradite him to Britain.
They say such a move would violate the Russian constitution, a stance which led to London expelling two Russian diplomats earlier this summer. Russia followed suit in a reciprocal measure.
Mr Lugovoi has repeatedly insisted he is innocent and has alleged the claims are the result of a "lie" prepared by the British government in collusion with its secret services.