Report findings are disturbing: David Cameron office

A British judge’s findings that the Russian state was “probably” involved in the poisoning of ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko is “extremely disturbing”, the office of Prime Minister David Cameron said Thursday.

“The conclusion that the murder was authorised at the highest levels of the Russian state is extremely disturbing,” said Mr Cameron’s spokeswoman.

“It is not the way for any state, let alone a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to behave,” she said.

“Regrettably, these findings confirm what we and previous governments already believed.”

Mr Cameron’s spokeswoman said the leader would “weigh carefully” any response with the “broader need to work with Russia on certain issues”.

“He recognises the importance of engaging and co-operating with Russia where this is in the national interest and limiting our engagement with Russians... Where that is in our interest.”

Litvinenko, a prominent Kremlin critic, died three weeks after drinking tea laced with radioactive polonium at an upmarket London hotel in 2006.

Two Russians, Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitri Kovtun, were identified by British police as prime suspects but attempts to extradite the pair have failed.

Home secretary Theresa May also told Parliament the killing was “a blatant and unacceptable breach of the most fundamental tenets of international law”.

“The conclusion that the Russian state was probably involved in the murder of Mr Litvinenko is deeply disturbing,” she said.

“This was a blatant and unacceptable breach of the most fundamental tenets of international law and civilised behaviour. But we have to accept that this doesn’t come as a surprise.”

She said Russia's continued failure to ensure the two killers are brought to justice is “unacceptable” and that Interpol notices and European arrest warrants for the two men remain in place.

The treasury agreed to impose asset freezes against the two prime suspects in the Litvinenko murder, Ms May told the House of Commons.

“Senior representations” were being made to the authorities in Moscow, while the Russian ambassador was being summoned to the foreign office.