In Russia, a former KGB agent has denied British allegations of murdering the Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko. Britain is demanding the extradition of Andrey Lugovoy for Litvinenko’s poisoning death. On Tuesday, Lugovoy proclaimed his innocence.

Andrey Lugovoy: “I want to stress once again that I don’t consider myself guilty. Moreover, I find myself a victim. Myself and my family members came under radioactive attack while in Britain. I have already said this once, and I am repeating it firmly and with all responsibility: I find the charges inadequate and groundless.”

The British government said Andrey Lugovoy met with Litvinenko at a London hotel only hours before Litvinenko became ill with polonium-210 poisoning. Litvinenko was a former spy and prominent critic of the Russian government.

British prosecutor Ken McDonald: “I have today concluded that the evidence sent to us by the police is sufficient to charge Andrey Lugovoy with the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, by deliberate poisoning. I have further concluded that the prosecution of this case would clearly be in the public interest. In those circumstances, I have instructed CPS lawyers to take immediate steps to seek the early extradition of Andrey Lugovoy from Russia to the United Kingdom, so that he may be charged here with murder and brought swiftly before a court in London to be prosecuted for this extraordinarily grave crime.”

The Russian prosecutor-general’s office says it won’t turn Lugovoy over to Britain to be tried.