Russia investigating spy's murder not to affect relations: Lavrov

Moscow, Dec 7 (UNI) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov today said investigation into the death of former KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko being conducted by Scotland Yard officers in Russia was not affecting the British-Russian relations.

"The inquiry by Scotland Yard is not affecting our political relations," Lavrov told journalists.

"I cannot judge how it affects relations on the British side," he said, adding attempts to make the case a political sensation were futile.

Earlier this month, Mr Lavrov had strongly warned against the "politicisation" of the situation around the death of Alexander saying, it may damage Russian-British relations.

"It is unacceptable to make officials involved in speculations.

This of course damages our relations," he said during his trip to Brussels.

He also denied Russian diplomats were ordered to protest over statement made by Litvinenko on his dedath bed, accusing President Vladimir Putin.

"If such reports were circulated, as you say, they are absolutely incorrect. Diplomats were not given such instructions and could not have been given," Lavrov noted.

Mr Litvinenko died in a London hospital on November 23. His body was found to contain a lethal dose of polonium-210, a radioactive isotope.

Officers of the Scotland Yard arrived Monday in Moscow to investigate the case. Currently, they are questioning a number of people who met Litvinenko around the time of his reported poisoning.

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