BBC Monitoring

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mariya Zakharova says at a media briefing that Britain's actions create a "dangerous precedent" and it "replaced objective legal proceedings with a farce".

BBC Monitoring

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mariya Zakharova says the Litvinenko probe is an outcome of one-and-a-half years of games behind the scenes, adding that it was all predictable and the logical conclusion of a pseudo-legal and quasi-legal process.

"We can say that this [probe] is criminal, it's aimed to denigrate Russia. The inquiry was secretive and politicised."

Image source, Russia-24

Russian President Vladimir Putin has yet to respond to the allegation to come out of the inquiry that he "probably" approved the murder of ex-Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in 2006.

Mr Putin is likely to have signed off the poisoning of Mr Litvinenko, in part due to personal "antagonism" between the pair, it said.

He has been chairing a meeting on science and education this morning, with live pictures showing him on the Russia-24 news channel.

Analysis by Oleg Boldyrev, BBC Moscow correspondent

Officials in Moscow are dismissing the inquiry – once again. For years Moscow was rejecting allegations of high-level involvement in the murder of Alexander Litvinenko and the main suspect, Andrei Lugovoi, has been given a parliament seat and a prominent stage to protest his innocence.

He did so again today, his take on the story has become well-rehearsed and no amount of details published in London are likely to change that. For almost 10 years Lugovoi has had to stay put in Russia as there’s an international warrant for his arrest.

It is unlikely he has any assets to be frozen by the British authorities. The words about "high probability" used by Sir Robert Owen invited scorn from him and many other commentators from the officialdom.

In the ironic comment of another member of parliament, Nikolai Kovalev, himself an ex-FSB boss, relations between Moscow and London will not be spoiled as there’s no room for making then any worse. Russian top brass have not commented on the issue, perhaps waiting for the political response to Sir Robert’s report in the UK.

If it emerges that no significant measures against Russian officials or economy have been announced, it may mean that those dismissive comments in Russia will not stay in circulation for too long and Moscow will, once again, consider the case closed.

Here is chairman Sir Robert Owen giving his key findings from the inquiry earlier.

Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Crispin Blunt calls the report "a triumph for Marina Litvinenko and the British legal system".

Mr Blunt says that the current state of relations with Russia is already "heavily conditioned" by the understanding of this case, and says the challenge remains to "advance our remaining common interests" with Russia against violent Islamic extremism and ending the civil war in Syria, "with this as the backdrop".

Theresa May agrees that "our relationship with Russia is already heavily conditioned" by the case and says a "guarded engagement with Russia on certain issues" will be important.

Despite the apparent involvement of the Russian state at the highest level in the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, the UK still needs "to engage" with Russia, albeit "guardedly", Home Secretary Theresa May says.

Issues such as Syria and the conflict there mean the UK still has to talk to Russia as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, she adds.

The Metropolitan Police have stressed that Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun remain wanted for Alexander Litvinenko's murder. "Our objective will always be to put them before a criminal court," the force said in a statement.

"This was a cold and calculated murder that caused immense suffering to Alexander and his family and one that had no regard for the safety of the public in London.

"The investigation has been painstakingly conducted to identify and gather evidence to find those responsible and to bring them to justice.

"It is important to remember that behind the significant global interest in this case, this remains an investigation into the murder of a man on the streets of London."

Norman Smith
BBC News assistant political editor

What I found striking listening to the debate was the torrent of criticism Theresa May faced from all sides of the house. 

I hardly heard a single MP speak in support of the very limited response of the government.

President Putin was described as a KGB thug and gangster, someone who presides over a rogue state, who uses assassination as government policy.

There have been warnings from some MPs that the UK government response will be seen as a sign of weakness - and there were calls for measures including travel bans and sanctions.

Mrs May said that she is taking action, but I think the view is that the action being taken so far is very, very limited. 

A very circumscribed and cautious response. The reason for that, bluntly, is Syria. The so-called Islamic State is seen as a threat to the UK, and Russia is an ally in fighting them.

Diplomatic necessity seems to have trumped the need for justice.

Marina Litvinenko has referenced the words of her husband on his hospital deathbed in 2006.

In a statement released at the time, he had said: "You may succeed in silencing one man but the howl of protest from around the world will reverberate, Mr Putin, in your ears for the rest of your life.

"May God forgive you for what you have done, not only to me but to beloved Russia and its people." 

BBC Monitoring

President Vladimir Putin made no mention of the UK report on the Litvinenko killing in his opening remarks to a session of the presidential council on science and education.

The meeting is still being broadcast live by Russian state news channel Russia-24. 

Anatoly Litvinenko, who was 12 at the time of his father's murder, spoke to the press earlier

Theresa May says the PM will be raising the findings from the inquiry with President Putin "at the next available opportunity". 

She says she has written to Marina Litvinenko promising to consider her appeals for action to be taken.

She says there are a number actions that can be taken against certain individuals in terms of a travel ban.

But, she points out that in the case of suspects Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun, the government "wants them in the UK" so that they can face trial.

BBC Monitoring

Litvinenko murder suspects named by the UK public inquiry should go to court to defend their reputation, says Pavel Krasheninnikov, the head of the legal committee at the Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament).

"If any names are named, these citizens should defend themselves, defend their honour and dignity, their good name," the MP tells Interfax news agency.

The shadow home secretary says there are "difficult and right questions" to be asked about the UK's relations with Russia - including cultural, economic and diplomatic.

He questions whether the 2018 Fifa World Cup, which is to be held in Russia, should proceed.

"Isn't there a growing case for this country to engage with others for a debate about whether the 2018 World Cup should go ahead in Russia?" he says.

There are some cheers behind him as he says that.