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Berezovsky says will face trial in 3rd country only with Lugovoi

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U.K.-based Russian tycoon, Boris Berezovsky, said he is ready to face Russian trial for fraud but only in a third country and with Andrei Lugovoi who is wanted by Britain as a prime murder suspect.
LONDON, July 18 (RIA Novosti) - U.K.-based Russian tycoon, Boris Berezovsky, said he is ready to face Russian trial for fraud but only in a third country and with Andrei Lugovoi who is wanted by Britain as a prime murder suspect.

A former Kremlin security officer, Lugovoi is accused by Britain of murdering Alexander Litvinenko, a former security service officer, who died of radioactive poisoning in London in November. Lugovoi in turn has accused Berezovsky of links to British secret services.

"I agree to face any accusations Russia is pressing against me, including the Aeroflot and LogoVAZ case, and a coup attempt," he told a news conference in London, adding he would only stand trial if Lugovoi was in the same court.

Russia's refusal to extradite Lugovoi for trial in Britain has resulted in Britain expelling four Russian diplomats and introducing visa restrictions for Russian officials.

Britain's Minister for Europe, Jim Murphy, ruled out Wednesday the possibility of exchanging Berezovsky for Lugovoi, and said Lugovoi as a Russian citizen must be held responsible for murdering Litvinenko, who received British citizenship shortly before his death.

Russian prosecutors' spokesman also said in May that such a swap was impossible.

Berezovsky called a news conference Wednesday after British media reported that there had been a foiled Russian murder plot against him. Berezovsky said the assassination plan had been masterminded by the same forces that were behind the Litvinenko killing. In a deathbed note allegedly written by Litvinenko, he blamed the Kremlin and President Vladimir Putin for his death. The Kremlin has dismissed the allegations.

"I think it was the same people that orchestrated the Litvinenko murder," Berezovsky said.

Berezovsky who said he has previously been targeted in several murder attempts said he was being hunted down as "one of the most important witnesses in Litvinenko's murder" and "a financial sponsor of the Russian opposition."

"If you ask me whether I am ready to die, I can say I am," the businessman said.

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