Russian accused of murdering Putin enemy Alexander Litvinenko dies of Covid

POISONER Dmitry Kovtun — accused of murdering Putin enemy Alexander Litvinenko in London — has died of Covid aged 56.

The death will increase speculation that Kovtun also poisoned himself with polonium-210 when he spiked Litvinenko’s tea at a hotel in the capital in 2006.

Fellow ex-FSB operative Andrei Lugovoy — also accused of Litvinenko’s killing — confirmed Kovtun’s death in Moscow.

Lugovoy, 55, now an ultranationalist Russian MP, said: “We have the sad news that my close and loyal friend Dmitry Kovtun passed away suddenly as a result of a serious illness linked to a coronavirus infection.

“Sleep well, dear friend! We will never forget you.”

Russian news agency Tass confirmed the death.

The pair always denied involvement in poising Litvinenko, who died aged 43, but Britain alleged the assassination was ordered by Putin or his circle.

A trail of the radioactive agent on plane seats led back to Moscow and to Germany — where Kovtun was based at the time.

Both men were subject to sanctions but Russia always refused to allow their extradition for trial in Britain.