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Vladimir Putin 'probably' approved Alexander Litvinenko killing in London

President Vladimir Putin "probably" approved the assassination of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in London, a public inquiry has found.

Sir Robert Owen's report said Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitri Kovtun were probably acting under the direction of Moscow's FSB intelligence service when they poisoned him with radioactive polonium 210 at the Millennium Hotel in Mayfair in 2006.

The Home Secretary said the Russian ambassador will be summoned to the Foreign Office to be told about the Government’s anger about the case.

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Russian ambassador holds Litvinenko Foreign Office talks

The Russian ambassador speaks outside the Foreign Office.

The Russia state's likely involvement in the murder of Alexander Litvinenko is "deeply disturbing, demonstrating a flagrant disregard for UK law" and "the safety of UK citizens", Europe minister David Lidington has told the Russian ambassador.

In a meeting at the Foreign Office, Mr Lidington told Alexander Vladimirovich Yakovenko of the Government's "deep concern" about the findings and warned it would complicate relations and "undermine trust" between the two nations.

“Mr Lidington reiterated the UK Government’s demand that Russia cooperate with the criminal investigation to ensure that the suspects could be brought to justice and face trial in the United Kingdom," a Foreign Office spokeswoman said.

Speaking outside the Foreign Office, Mr Yakovenko described the report as a "whitewash" and said it was "absolutely unacceptable" for the report to conclude the Russian state was involved in Mr Litvinenko's death.

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Vladimir Putin 'probably' approved Alexander Litvinenko killing in London

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