Oligarch Boris Berezovsky wins libel case against Russian broadcaster in London

Oligarch wins suit against Russian broadcaster

LONDON — Self-exiled oligarch Boris Berezovsky has won his libel case against a Russian broadcaster that accused him of masterminding the murder of a former Russian agent in London.

The 63-year-old tycoon sued All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting (RTR) for a 2007 show that accused him of being behind the poisoning death of renegade Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko more than three years ago.

Berezovsky, a friend and supporter of Litvinenko, said the allegation was outrageous. The court awarded him 150,000 pounds (about $225,000) in damages Wednesday.

RTR boycotted the trial, claiming that the court had effectively robbed it of the opportunity to defend itself. The broadcaster last week demanded the case be thrown out.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s High Court is due to rule on a libel claim brought by self-exiled Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky against a Kremlin-owned broadcaster.

The 63-year-old tycoon sued the All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (RTR) for a show that accused him of masterminding the death of renegade Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko in London.

Litvinenko died in November 2006 after drinking tea laced with radioactive polonium. On his deathbed, he accused the Kremlin of poisoning him.

An April 2007 show broadcast on RTR cited a mysterious figure, identified as “Pyotr,” as accusing Berezovsky of being behind the slaying.

Berezovsky sued over the show, saying it was outrageous. The ruling is expected later Wednesday.