LDPR deputy Andrey Lugovoi believes that there is no other nation in the world that could, like the Russians, "change the course of history with one swipe of the shoulder." “We are more than a people,” the deputy says in an address to citizens on his official website. He also claims that Russians are a great and eternal phenomenon that will always influence the fate of the world.
Among the ultra-nationalist declarations and appeals that abound on the site, there is also a remark that the Russians managed to overcome a lot and take a worthy position in world politics. “Today we are strong enough,” says State Duma deputy Andrei Lugovoy, “to move forward, sweeping away envy, slander and political blackmail.”
As for political blackmail, envy and slander, Mr. Lugovoi assures that this side of world politics is familiar to him firsthand.
Most Media Figure of 2006
Deputy Andrei Lugovoi was considered one of the most public figures in 2006, as he was involved in a scandal related to the murder of defector Litvinenko, and was even accused of hismurder (recall, Alexander Litvinenko was killed with polonium-210, which is a radioactive substance).
Mr. Lugovoi strongly denied the accusations, putting forward his own version of the event. In addition, another case was later opened, in which Andrey Lugovoi is already acting as the injured party. The media became aware of the polonium poisoning of the deputy, members of his family, as well as his childhood friend, businessman Dmitry Kovtun.
Double standards
In the light of these events, an interview published in December 2008 by the Spanish edition of El Pais is interesting. In it, Andrei Lugovoy again returns to the topic of the death of A. Litvinenko and states that it was in the interests of Scotland Yard to declare the former FSO and KGB officer as the main suspect. At the same time, Lugovoy expressed his conviction that, guided by the interests of the state, it is necessary to destroy those who can cause him serious harm.
Besides, in the interview Andrey Lugovoi touches upon the topic of relations between Russia and Georgia. According to the deputy, after the military conflict between the two countries, which led to the recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which were previously part of Georgia, the latter realized "that you can't joke with us." Lugovoi also stated that, being in the place of the head of the Russian Federation, he would have ordered the destruction of Georgian President Saakashvili.
These are the statements of one of the most prominent members of the Russian politicians, a State Duma deputy from the Liberal Democratic Party. What is interesting about the biography and activities of Andrei Lugovoi? That, apart from the Litvinenko scandal,draws media attention to it? What is Andrei Lugovoy as a person?
Biography
Data about him are freely available on the Internet. Lugovoy Andrey Konstantinovich by occupation is a well-known political figure of the Russian Federation, as well as an entrepreneur. At one time, he served as an employee of the Russian state security bodies. In addition, in the past, Lugovoi was at the head of the Ninth Val group of security companies. Currently, he is a deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation from the Liberal Democratic Party.
According to the official declaration, his annual income is 2,949,938 rubles. Lugovoi owns three cars and an apartment of 368.80 sq. m (2012 data).
Childhood, studies, military service, KGB
Lugovoi Andrey Konstantinovich was born on September 19, 1966 in a military family in Baku.
In 1987 he graduated from the Moscow Higher Military Command School. According to the distribution, he ended up in the Kremlin regiment, which is subordinate to the KGB department No. 9 (state guard). Served as a platoon leader and then commanded a regimental training company.
In 1991-1996 his places of work were: the Main Directorate of Security of the Russian Federation, the Security Service of the President of the Russian Federation, the Federal Security Service. His duties included the protection of senior government officials, including. about. Prime Minister Y. Gaidar, Head of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation S. Filatov, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation A. Kozyrev, Deputy Prime Minister A. Bolshakov. Lugovoy later became head of the TV security service.channel ORT.
A number of media outlets named Lugovoi as belonging to the FSB. The deputy himself categorically denies belonging to the FSB. Mr. Lugovoy does not admit his involvement in operational work, recruitment, etc.
In 1990 Andrei Konstantinovich graduated from the Higher Courses of Military Counterintelligence under the KGB.
Glushkov's Escape
Attention of the press Andrey Lugovoi first attracted in 2001 by his participation in the so-called "Aeroflot case". According to the Izvestia newspaper, which refers to an anonymous source in the Prosecutor General's Office, it is believed that Lugovoy took part in the preparation of Glushkov's escape, following Patarkatsishvili's order.
The version of Glushkov himself is that the accusation of preparing his escape was set up by the FSB. The goal was to create an excuse to keep the prisoner in prison. Lugovoi was used as part of an organized plan. In 2004, he was sentenced by a court to imprisonment for a term of one year and two months.
Businessman
After leaving prison, Lugovoi went into business. Since 2006, he has been one of the owners of the Eugene Bougele Vine company, which specializes in the production of Pershin brand kvass. His enterprises "The Ninth Val" guarded members of the family of B. Berezovsky.
Litvinenko case
In October 2006, Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun traveled to London to meet A. Litvinenko, who was an old acquaintance of Lugovoi and his business partner. About a month later, Litvinenko died, as it was determined, from poisoning. The examination established the cause - it was polonium-210. The English authorities of the investigation carried out a check of the radioactive trace that stretched behind Litvinenko, after which they announced that the victim had been infected during a meeting with Kovtun and Lugovoi, which took place in November at the bar of the Millennium Hotel. The investigation found a teacup contaminated with radiation, from which the victim allegedly drank poison.
Lugovoi himself rejected the accusations. He cited available CCTV footage. For his part, Mr. Lugovoi offered three of his own versions of Litvinenko's poisoning. He believed that the case may be involved:
- UK intelligence agencies;
- "Russian mafia";
- oligarch Boris Berezovsky.
According to Lugovoy, Litvinenko and Berezovsky were agents of the British special services, who attempted to recruit Lugovoy himself. They tried to persuade him to collect compromising evidence on the President of the Russian Federation V. Putin.
Diplomatic conflict
In 2007, Russia demanded the extradition of Lugovoy as a person suspected of murdering a British citizen. Russia refused, citing the constitutional ban on the extradition of citizens. There was a diplomatic conflict between the two countries. As a result, 4 Russian diplomats were expelled from Great Britain. Russia responded by expelling 4 British diplomats from the country.
Boris Volodarsky, intelligence historian and author of The KGB Poison Factory (2009), based on the arguments and facts at his disposal,claims that it was not Lugovoi who poisoned Litvinenko.
The Litvinenko case is under the control of the British special services
This idea was expressed by Andrei Lugovoy at a press conference, where he presented his vision of the scandal to reporters. No matter how many versions of what happened, it was not without the knowledge of the British special services, the politician is sure.
Lugovoi said that London was counting on his silence and on the fact that all issues would be resolved by themselves: he would be labeled a criminal, Boris Berezovsky would be able to avoid extradition to Russia, Scotland Yard and the British secret services would save face in front of English taxpayers, and Russia, represented by its leadership, will be compromised for a long time.
But Andrei Lugovoy is convinced that they miscalculated. He is ready to lose a lot more money, but he will defend his good name. If the British authorities are unfavorable to a fair trial in court, he will turn to the Hague International Court, where he will talk about the lawlessness against him by the British intelligence services, as well as their agents Berezovsky and Litvinenko.
On elections to the State Duma
In September 2007, LDPR leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky announced that during the Duma elections in December, Andrei Lugovoy would become number two on the party list. Lugovoi confirmed these words. He also did not rule out his participation in future presidential elections. At one of the press conferences (2007), he was told that, like any citizen of the Russian Federation, he would like to bepresident. Lugovoi has been repeatedly compared to Putin in the media. There have been speculations about his possible presidential run.
As a result of the elections, Andrei Lugovoy received the status of a deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation. Journalists have suggested that his entry into the Liberal Democratic Party is a win-win deal. During one of the press conferences, Lugovoy said that life forced him to go into politics. The decision to join the Liberal Democratic Party and run for the State Duma was made long ago. On his own initiative, he "asked" to join the party. The version that his participation in the elections was dictated by the need to obtain parliamentary immunity, Lugovoy called "complete stupidity."
In December 2011, Andrei Lugovoy was re-elected to the Duma. He joined the Security and Anti-Corruption Committee as Vice Chairman.
Lugovoy's Law
State Duma Deputy Andrey Lugovoy in 2013 became one of the authors of the law “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On Information, Information Technologies and Information Protection”. In accordance with the changes, since February 2014, it has become possible to conduct pre-trial blocking of sites on charges of extremism.
According to human rights activists, this law is nothing more than an instrument of domestic Internet censorship. The Human Rights Council under the President of the Russian Federation believes that this law seriously restricts the constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens. Later, in 2014, Andrei Lugovoy applied to the Prosecutor General's Office withthe requirement to check the legality of the activities of Yandex.
Awards
In March 2015, the politician received a high government award. For a significant contribution to the development of Russian parliamentarism and active lawmaking, Andrei Lugovoy received a medal of the Order of the II degree "For Merit to the Fatherland".
Family
The politician is married. In October 2012, he married a 23-year-old student half his age. Sometimes netizens mistakenly call the name of the diplomat's young wife Maria Lugovaya. Andrey Lugovoy is actually not related to the life of a popular actress. They are just cousins. The wife of the deputy was a former student from Nakhodka (Primorsky Territory) Ksenia Pirrova.
Andrey Lugovoi met his wife, as they say, on the street, near the store where he came to choose products. The girl with her beauty made a very strong impression on the businessman. By that time, Lugovoi had been divorced for several years. The first wife of Andrei Lugovoi gave birth to two daughters and a son during their marriage. One of the daughters is two years older than his new wife.
Andrey Lugovoi's wedding
On October 5, 2012, the young people played a luxurious wedding on the Black Sea coast in the Abrau-Dyurso reserve. Instead of traditional limousines, according to Hit magazine, a helicopter was chosen as the transport. On the eve of the holiday, the guests were taken to Gelendzhik by a charter plane and accommodated in the Kempinski Grand Hotel, one of the most comfortable hotels in the city. The wedding went on for several days. The main part of the holiday was spent in a restaurant located on a retractable platform near the lake. Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Malezhik acted as the toastmaster.
Fourth child
In April 2015, the young wife of the politician gave birth to his son. Throughout the pregnancy, Ksenia's interesting position was hidden even from her relatives. After the baby was born, the woman decided to publish a photo with a rounded belly on her Instagram page. The parents keep the name of the newborn son a secret.
Unjudicial
This is the name of the eight-episode film starring Lugovoi's wife. The comedy series "Unjudicial" humorously beats the events of a decade ago. Ksenia Lugovaya played the role of Berezovsky's assistant in it.
There used to be a joke in the media: Lugovoy was lucky he met a girl who hadn't heard anything about Litvinenko. Who is lucky is another question. A provincial from Nakhodka, who used to work part-time as a go-go dancer, is now positioned by the media as a talented singer and a promising businesswoman: a leading restaurateur, owner of the Ded Pikhto restaurant chain.
One way or another, the eight-episode TV movie was shown to viewers on the NTV channel before the publication of the report of the judge of the High Court of London, in which Andrei Lugovoi and his accomplice Dmitry Kovtun are called the perpetrators of contract killings. The wife of the deputy, who is a key person involved in the murder of former FSB agent A. Litvinenko, 27-year-old beauty Ksenia playsin the picture, the role of an assistant to a certain oligarch in disgrace. Its prototype was the late Boris Berezovsky, who also died in London under very mysterious circumstances.
The peculiarities of the interpretation of the authors of the television series are as follows: Litvinenko is shown as a traitor, and Lugovoi is depicted as an honest and incorruptible hero defending the interests of the motherland.
