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Russian Intrigue And The Poisoning Of Litvinenko
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AirTalk Tile 2024
Dec 4, 2006
Russian Intrigue And The Poisoning Of Litvinenko
Many Londoners and other Europeans spent a frightening weekend wondering if they too might have been exposed to the deadly radioactive toxin Polonium-210. This comes after several British Airways flights and several locations in central London showed signs of radioactivity. The poison was apparently smuggled to London where it was used to kill former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko. His death came as he was investigating the death of Anna Politkovskaya, journalist and critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, on Thursday Irish authorities launched an inquiry into the sudden and violent illness of former Russian Prime Minister Yegor T. Gaidar, whose aides said he might also have been the victim of poisoning. The Polonium, meanwhile, has been traced to a Russian nuclear power plant. As this plot of intrigue and murder thickens, Larry asks what is going on in Russia? Is the Putin government ordering hits on its opponents? Or is there a rogue element in Russia's secret service? And how does this tie into Russia's dark history of offing political opponents. Larry talks with Robert English, Professor of International Relations at USC who specializes in Russia and Eastern Europe.

Many Londoners and other Europeans spent a frightening weekend wondering if they too might have been exposed to the deadly radioactive toxin Polonium-210. This comes after several British Airways flights and several locations in central London showed signs of radioactivity. The poison was apparently smuggled to London where it was used to kill former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko. His death came as he was investigating the death of Anna Politkovskaya, journalist and critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, on Thursday Irish authorities launched an inquiry into the sudden and violent illness of former Russian Prime Minister Yegor T. Gaidar, whose aides said he might also have been the victim of poisoning. The Polonium, meanwhile, has been traced to a Russian nuclear power plant. As this plot of intrigue and murder thickens, Larry asks what is going on in Russia? Is the Putin government ordering hits on its opponents? Or is there a rogue element in Russia's secret service? And how does this tie into Russia's dark history of offing political opponents. Larry talks with Robert English, Professor of International Relations at USC who specializes in Russia and Eastern Europe.

Many Londoners and other Europeans spent a frightening weekend wondering if they too might have been exposed to the deadly radioactive toxin Polonium-210. This comes after several British Airways flights and several locations in central London showed signs of radioactivity. The poison was apparently smuggled to London where it was used to kill former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko. His death came as he was investigating the death of Anna Politkovskaya, journalist and critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, on Thursday Irish authorities launched an inquiry into the sudden and violent illness of former Russian Prime Minister Yegor T. Gaidar, whose aides said he might also have been the victim of poisoning. The Polonium, meanwhile, has been traced to a Russian nuclear power plant. As this plot of intrigue and murder thickens, Larry asks what is going on in Russia? Is the Putin government ordering hits on its opponents? Or is there a rogue element in Russia's secret service? And how does this tie into Russia's dark history of offing political opponents. Larry talks with Robert English, Professor of International Relations at USC who specializes in Russia and Eastern Europe.

Credits
Host, AirTalk
Host, Morning Edition, AirTalk Friday, The L.A. Report Morning Edition
Senior Producer, AirTalk with Larry Mantle
Producer, AirTalk with Larry Mantle
Producer, AirTalk with Larry Mantle
Associate Producer, AirTalk & FilmWeek
Associate Producer, AirTalk
Associate Producer (On-Call), AirTalk
Apprentice News Clerk, FilmWeek