Dmitry Kovtun was accused with ex-FSB operative Andrei Lugovoy – now a ultranationalist MP – of finishing up the killing in 2006.
Mr Litvinenko, a British citizen, was a former KGB officer who had change into an outspoken opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He died in agony weeks after consuming inexperienced tea laced with radioactive polonium-210 at London’s Millennium Lodge, the place he met Kovtun and Lugovoy.
From his deathbed, he accused Putin of ordering his killing, however the Kremlin has at all times denied any position.
British investigators discovered traces of polonium at websites throughout London the place the 2 males had been, together with in places of work, inns, planes and the Arsenal soccer stadium.
They denied finishing up the poisoning, and Russia refused to extradite them to face trial.
A choose at a British inquiry into the case concluded in 2016 that the homicide was an operation of Russia’s FSB spy company that was in all probability accredited by its director on the time, Nikolai Patrushev, and by Putin himself.
Russia’s TASS information company stated on Saturday Kovtun died in a Moscow hospital aged 56.
Lugovoy stated: ‘At present we now have the unhappy information that my shut and dependable buddy Dmitry Kovtun handed away out of the blue because of a critical sickness linked to a coronavirus an infection.
‘That is an irreplaceable and troublesome loss for us. From the underside of my coronary heart I categorical my deepest condolences to all of Dima’s (Dmitry’s) kin and associates.
‘Sleep properly, pricey buddy! We are going to always remember you.’
Following on from the allegations in 2006, there have been at all times questions surrounding Kovtun’s well being.
His comparatively early dying is more likely to enhance hypothesis he suffered long-term well being injury himself whereas administering the poison.
A TASS supply stated: ‘Dmitry Kovtun died in the present day in a Moscow hospital from the consequences of Covid.’
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