Berezovsky sues Russian broadcaster for libel

Tuesday, 09 February 2010

LONDON (AP) — Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky has taken a Kremlin-aligned broadcaster to court in London over the claim that he was behind the 2006 death of a former Russian agent in London.

Berezovsky says that Russia's state-run RTR Planeta aired the allegation that he masterminded the poisoning death of Alexander Litvinenko. The tycoon denies any involvement in the death of Litvinenko.

Berezovsky testified Tuesday that he was "extremely upset to be accused so directly of killing my friend."

The 63-year-old is suing the All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company for an April 2007 show in which a silhouetted man called "Pyotr" accused Berezovsky of organizing Litvinenko's death.

The broadcaster said in a statement that it would not participate in the "prejudiced" and "politically tainted" trial.