Grieving widow of Putin’s poisoned enemy offers solace to family of Nikolai Glushkov
THE widow of Alexander Litvinenko yesterday offered to give words of comfort to the grieving family of her murdered friend Nikolai Glushkov. Retired Russian businessman Mr Glushkov, 68, died from “compression of the neck” at his £400,000 home in New Malden, Surrey, on Monday.
Police cordon off home of Nikolai Glushkov
His strangled body was discovered by his devastated daughter Natalya, who is in her her 30s, who had the heartbreaking task of telling her brother Dina in Moscow.
Marina Litvinkeno, whose husband was killed by radioactive poisoning in London in 2006, said: “For me this is an emotional time. Nikolai was not a close friend but I knew him well.
“I am so sorry for his relatives for what has happened.
“I’ve not yet been able to speak to his daughter but I hope to speak to her soon to express my sympathy for the family.
Marina Litvinkeno and retired Russian businessman Nikolai Glushkov
For me this is an emotional time. Nikolai was not a close friend but I knew him well
“It is a very sad situation. This is a very sensitive time.”
Marina, who lives in London with her son Anatoly, 23, said: “I am worried about my son and the people I love.”
The timing of the outrages is significant as Russia goes to the polls today in an election which will see Vladimir Putin elected for another six years.
Exiled Russians in Britain are stepping up their security while still trying to get their message to their countrymen and women that Russia needs a new political system.
Former oil oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who formed the Open Russia Foundation after being jailed following a fall out with Putin, is urging voters to write Enough across their ballot papers, take a picture and upload it on the internet.
Mr Khodorkovsky said: “The goal is to show people both inside and outside Russia that there is another model of existence in our country – open to the world, not isolationist.
“And we need political forces that will act with a clear plan, putting the country on a healthy, democratic track of development, guided by the rule of law, the separation of powers and fair elections.”