On December 7 2006, in a Highgate Cemetery drenched with London rain, a Russian was buried within a stone's throw of the grave of Karl Marx. He was Alexander Litvinenko, Sasha to his friends, a boy from the deep Russian provinces who rose through the ranks of the world's most feared security service. Litvinenko was the man who denounced murder and corruption in the Russian government, fled from the wrath of the Kremlin, came to London, and allied himself with Moscow's sworn enemies. ?Now he was a martyr, condemned by foes unknown to an agonizing death in a hospital bed thousands of miles from home. Martin Sixsmith draws on his long experience as the BBC's Moscow correspondent and his contact with the key London-based Russians to dissect Alexander Litvinenko's murder. Myriad theories have been put forward since he died, but the story goes back to 2000 when hostilities were declared between the Kremlin and its political opponents. This is a war that has blown hot and cold for over six years, and that has pitted some of Russia's strongest, richest men against the most powerful Russian president since Josef Stalin.? The conflict is also beginning to revive horrors of the days of the KGB, in a conflict that looks set only to intensify as the March 2008 presidential election approaches. The Litvinenko File is a gripping inside account of a shocking act of murder, when Russia's war with itself spilled over onto the streets of London and made the world take notice.
An incredibly well researched and thorough examination of the Litvinenko's assassination by one of Britain's top journalist. The book is nothing short of a thriller, fast-paced, full of spies, assassins, and high-wire plotting at the highest levels of office. Bone chilling because this stuff is actually real --it's a fascinating read.
Fascinating account of the Litvinenko murder
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
This was a fascinating and lucid account of the mystery behind who murdered Litvinenko. The author writes knowledgeably about contemporary Russia. It was a bit of a let down to find that the author was not in fact going to name the person ultimately responsible for the murder, though. Highly recommended.
The Litvinenko File by Martin Sixsmith
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
Extremely good portrayal of the devious, manipulative culture of the current day Russia. Very informative as well. For anyone who is not familiar with Mr. Putin's Russia this is an eye opener.
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