Film about poisoned spy to screen in Cannes

A documentary about poisoned Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko will have its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in France this week, its co-director said today.

Andrei Nekrasov said Rebellion: The Litvinenko Case, would screen at the prestigious festival on Saturday.

Trade magazine Variety said the festival would announce the addition to its schedule later today.

Nekrasov, co-director Olga Konskaya and Litvinenko’s widow, Marina, are expected in Cannes for the screening, Variety said.

Litvinenko, a former KGB agent turned Kremlin critic, died in London on November 23, several weeks after being poisoned with the radioactive element polonium-210.

On his deathbed, the 43-year-old Litvinenko accused President Vladimir Putin of being behind his killing.

British prosecutors announced yesterday that they were charging Andrei Lugovoy, a former KGB bodyguard, with the murder and would seek his extradition from Russia.

Lugovoy strongly denied involvement and said the charge was politically motivated.

Russia said it would refuse an extradition request.

Nekrasov, a friend of Litvinenko, had been making a film about the ex-spy before he was poisoned.