Russia blames ex-oligarch with spy killing

MOSCOW, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Russian investigators believe a former shareholder of oil firm Yukos ordered the mysterious killing of Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko.

The investigators suspect that Loenid Nevzlin, who lives in exile in Israel, ordered the murder of Litvinenko, Russian daily Kommersant reported.

Nevzlin's lawyer said the charges were a bid to have the United States extradite Nevzlin to Russia; the former oligarch is currently in the United States, and two years ago he has been charged with ordering several contractor killings.

Nevzlin called the allegations "absolute nonsense."

The former oil billionaire fled to Israel when Yukos head Mikhail Khodorkovsky was facing fraud and tax evasion charges that led to his imprisonment.

Nevzlin met Litvinenko in Israel to discuss research the former spy was doing on the Yukos affair.

Russian officials suspect Nevzlin because of connections with another attempted poisoning with mercury, as traces of the chemical element also known as quicksilver were found in Moscow and London. British detectives said they were unaware of the evidence against Nevzlin in the Litvinenko case, the London Times reported.

A fierce Kremlin critic who lived in exile, Litvinenko died on Nov. 23 after a painful radioactive illness for which he blamed President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin has denied any involvement, calling the allegations ridiculous.

While observers say it was unlikely that Putin would jeopardize his image by ordering the killing, British investigators are unwilling to rule out any theories.

Scotland Yard agents and Russian police are investigating the murder.