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Judge Says Putin 'Probably Approved' Poisoning

Marina Litvinenko (center) and her son Anatoly (left) listen as their lawyer, Ben Emmerson speaks during a press conference after receiving the results of the inquiry into the death of Marina's husband Alexander Litvinenko, on January 21, 2016 in London, England. Former KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko was poisoned in 2006 with radioactive polonium-210 in the United Kingdom, after fleeing Russia and criticizing president Vladimir Putin. (Carl Court/Getty Images)
Marina Litvinenko (center) and her son Anatoly (left) listen as their lawyer, Ben Emmerson speaks during a press conference after receiving the results of the inquiry into the death of Marina's husband Alexander Litvinenko, on January 21, 2016 in London, England. Former KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko was poisoned in 2006 with radioactive polonium-210 in the United Kingdom, after fleeing Russia and criticizing president Vladimir Putin. (Carl Court/Getty Images)

British Judge Robert Owen has issued a lengthy report concluding that Russian President Vladimir Putin “probably approved” the plan to kill former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko.

Litvienko had fled to London and was a fierce critic of Putin. He died in 2006, three weeks after drinking tea at a London hotel that was laced with polonium 210, a radioactive isotope that is deadly even in tiny quantities.

Edward Lucas of the Economist joins Here & Now’s Robin Young with details on Britain’s public inquiry into the killing.

Guest

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