One of the suspects in the alleged murder of Aleksandr Litvinenko claims the former Russian spy may have killed himself accidentally.
Speaking at a news conference in Moscow on April 8, Dmitry Kovtun described Litvinenko's death as an "accidental suicide."
Kovtun said he thinks Litvinenko, who died in London in 2006, poisoned himself while handling a radioactive isotope.
British authorities believe Litvinenko was poisoned with polonium-210 during a meeting with two men, Kovtun and Andrei Lugovoy.
The case is the subject of a public inquiry in London that is examining evidence allegedly linking Litvinenko's killing to Russian authorities.
Russia has refused to extradite the two suspects, while the Kremlin has always denied involvement in Litvinenko's death.
While on his deathbed, Litvinenko, a longtime critic of Vladimir Putin, accused the Russian president of ordering his murder.
Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP
