Finland urges Putin to help solve death of former Russian spy

Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja urged Russian president Vladimir Putin on Saturday to do everything in his power to help solve the death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in London.

In an interview with the Finnish national broadcaster, Tuomioja said that president Putin should understand "the seriousness of the situation."

"In my view to the very greatest extent it's in Russia's interests to have the death solved," he added.

At the news conference after the EU-Russia summit in Helsinki Friday, Putin said the death of Alexander Litvinenko was a tragedy and extended his condolences to Litvinenko's family.

But he denied any involvement in the murder. "There is no ground for speculations of this kind," he said.

Litvinenko, a former Russian spy died on Thursday and was poisoned by a radioactive substance. British police are currently studying footage from security cameras after finding radioactive traces at three London locations visited by Litvinenko.

Source: Xinhua