Russia has acknowledged that one of its infamous polonium “poisoners” was suffering from cancer at the time of his death three years ago.
Dmitry Kovtun, accused by Britain of involvement in the radioactive assassination of Vladimir Putin critic Alexander Litvinenko in 2006, passed away at 56 with Covid complications initially cited as the cause.
Now, his alleged accomplice Andrey Lugovoy, 59, has revealed that Kovtun had kidney-related oncology and other health issues. Vladimir Solovyov, a prominent TV figure close to Putin, mentioned that the polonium-210 dose Kovtun received nearly two decades ago had impacted his health.
Solovyov hinted at the possibility that the past dose affected Kovtun’s health. Lugovoy, who faces a murder trial in the UK, refrained from elaborating further, expressing concern about potential reactions from the West.
He further acknowledged Kovtun’s battle with cancer, with both men accused of poisoning Litvinenko during a meeting at a London hotel.
Litvinenko, a former FSB agent critical of Putin, accused Lugovoy and Kovtun before succumbing to a slow and agonizing death, leading to strained UK-Russia relations.
A detailed 300-page report by a judge concluded that Lugovoy and Kovtun poisoned Litvinenko and suggested that Putin likely approved the assassination personally.
In 2022, Lugovoy attributed Kovtun’s death to a severe illness related to a coronavirus infection, mourning the loss of his “close and loyal” friend.
Despite reports stating that Kovtun died from Covid effects, British authorities were also seeking him for questioning.
Lugovoy, a pro-Putin advocate and politician, maintains his innocence, alleging setup by British intelligence or anti-Putin Russian expatriates. Traces of Polonium-210 traced back to Moscow and Germany, where Kovtun resided at the time, were found on plane seats.
Radioactive traces were discovered at hotels where the alleged assassins had stayed, prompting Putin’s refusal to extradite them to the UK for trial.
Recently, reports surfaced regarding Lugovoy’s prostate cancer in 2023, following leaked medical records hacked by a Ukrainian cyber group.
Medical documents revealed Lugovoy’s refusal of aggressive treatment, opting for observation instead. Investigators suspect a link between his illness and Litvinenko’s poisoning due to the cancer-causing potential of polonium-210.
Upon returning from the UK, both Lugovoy and Kovtun sought treatment at a Moscow hospital specializing in radiation-related illnesses. Lugovoy and his wife welcomed a child following the incident.