Alex Goldfarb - Death of a Dissident: The Poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko and the Return of the KGB

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Copyright 2007 by Alexander Goldfarb and Marina Litvinenko

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First Free Press hardcover edition May 2007

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Goldfarb, Alexander.

Death of a dissident: the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko and the return of the KBG / Alex Goldfarb; with Marina Litvinenko.

p. cm.

1. Litvinenko, Alexander, 1962-2006. 2. DissentersRussia (Federation)Biography. 3. Federalnaia sluzhba bezopasnosti Rossii. 4. Political crimes and offensesRussia (Federation) 5. Russia (Federation)Politics and government1991-I. Litvinenko, Marina, 1962-II. Title.

DK510. 766.L58G65 2007

327.12470092dc22

[B] 2007012510

ISBN-13: 978-1-4165-5165-2

ISBN-10: 1-4165-5165-4

eISBN-13: 978-1-416-56076-0

To Sasha

PART I:
THE MAKING OF A DISSIDENT

PART II:
THE STRUGGLE FOR THE KREMLIN

PART III:
THE DRUMBEATS OF WAR

PART IV:
THE MAKING OF A PRESIDENT
(Russian-Style)

PART V:
THE RETURN OF THE KGB

THE SPIES

Barsukov, Mikhail Ivanovich, director of the FSB (1995-1996)

Khokholkov, Evgeny Grigorievich, head of the FSBs Division of Operations against Criminal Organizations (URPO)

Kovalev, Nikolai Dmitrievich, director of the FSB (1996-1998)

Trofimov, Anatoly Vasilievich, Moscow FSB chief (1994-1997), assassinated in 2005

Volokh, Vyacheslav Ivanovich, head of the FSBs antiterrorism unit (ATC) (1993-1998)

THE WHISTLE-BLOWERS

Gusak, Alexander Ivanovich, Sashas supervisor in URPO

Litvinenko, Alexander Valterovich (Sasha), poisoned in 2006

Ponkin, Andrei Valerievich, Sashas second in command

Shebalin, Viktor Vasilievich, member of Sashas URPO unit (possibly a mole)

THE OLIGARCHS

Abramovich, Roman Arkadievich (Roma), former partner of Berezovsky, co-owner of Sibneft

Berezovsky, Boris Abramovich, former controlling partner in ORT television, owner of LogoVAZ and co-owner of Sibneft, deputy secretary of National Security Council (1996-1997)

Gusinsky, Vladimir Alexandrovich (Goose, Volodya), former owner of NTV television and Most-Bank

Potanin, Vladimir Olegovich, head of Unexim Bank, first deputy prime minister (1996)

THE REFORMERS

Chernomyrdin, Viktor Stepanovich, prime minister (1992-1998)

Chubais, Anatoly Borisovich, first deputy prime minister (1994-1996)

Gaidar, Yegor Timurovich, prime minister (1991-1992)

Malashenko, Igor Evgenievich, founder and former president of NTV

Nemtsov, Boris Yefimovich, first deputy prime minister (1997-1998)

Rybkin, Ivan Petrovich, speaker of the Duma (1994-1996), secretary of National Security Council (1996-1998), presidential candidate (2004)

Soros, George, American philanthropist

Yeltsin, Boris Nikolaevich, president of the Russian Federation (1991-1999)

Yeltsin, Tatyana Borisovna (Tanya), daughter of Boris

Yumashev, Valentin Borisovich (Valya), journalist, Yeltsins chief of staff, married Tatyana Yeltsin

THE AUTOCRATS

Korzhakov, Alexander Ivanovich, head of Yeltsins security (FSO) (1991-1996)

Kulikov, Anatoly Sergeevich, minister of the interior (1995-1999)

Lebed, Alexander Ivanovich, chief of Yeltsins National Security Council

Primakov, Evgeny Maksimovich (Primus), foreign minister (1996-1998); prime minister (1998-1999)

Skuratov, Yuri Ilyich, prosecutor general (1995-1999)

Voloshin, Alexander Stalievich, Putins chief of staff (1999-2003)

THE REBELS

Dudayev, Dzhokhar, first president of Chechnya (1991-1996), assassinated

Maskhadov, Aslan, third president of Chechnya (1997-2005), killed in a raid

Udugov, Movladi, Islamist leader, member of Dudayev and Maskhadov governments, in exile since 1999

Yandarbiyev, Zelimkhan, second president of Chechnya (1996-1997), assassinated

Zakayev, Akhmed, minister of culture, foreign minister, in exile since 2002

THE TERRORISTS

Barayev, Arbi, warlord, killed in 2001

Barayev, Movsar, leader of Moscow theater siege, killed in 2002

Basayev, Shamil, warlord, killed in 2006

Gochiyayev, Achemez, suspect in Moscow apartment bombings, denies involvement, now in hiding

Khattab, Amir, Jordanian-born warlord, leader of Wahhabi, killed in 2002

Raduyev, Salman, warlord, died in Russian custody in 2002

THE INVESTIGATORS

Felshtinsky, Yuri Georgievich, coauthor with Sasha, Blowing Up Russia

Kovalyov, Sergei Adamovich, human rights activist, Duma member

Morozova, Tatyana and Aliona, survivors of Moscow apartment bombings

Politkovskaya, Anna Stepanovna, journalist at Novaya Gazeta, assassinated in 2006

Schekochihin, Yuri Petrovich, Duma member, journalist, poisoned in 2003

Tregubova, Elena Viktorovna, journalist and author of Tales of a Kremlin Digger

Trepashkin, Mikhail Ivanovich, maverick FSB officer, lawyer, arrested in 2003

Yushenkov, Sergei Nikolaevich, Duma member, leader of Liberal Russia, assassinated in 2003

THE SUSPECTS

Kovtun, Dmitry, businessman, former GRU officer

Lugovoy, Andrei, businessman, former FSB officer

Putin, Vladimir Vladimirovich (Volodya), FSB director (1998-1999), prime minister (1999), president (2000present)

Sokolenko, Vladislav, former FSB officer

DEATH OF A DISSIDENT

This is a very personal story of one mans life and death, but it is also the story of historic events and the deeds and misdeeds of world leaders.

I have written the personal story with the benefit of firsthand knowledge. I have written the history with confidence that it conveys Sasha Litvinenkos beliefs and conclusions, and my own. I do not propose that I am a neutral observer. I do maintain that I am an honest one and one who, with Marinas assistance, can best speak for Sasha.