Someone has produced a very detailed analysis of the media’s bias, lack of curiousity and lack of skepticism in reporting on the Litvinenko story. Thankfully they provided a summary so I do not have to post lots of exceprts.

This report will show that…

…many headlines and storylines in this story have no apparent basis in fact

…one of the major themes in coverage doesn’t make sense.

Press bias was evidenced by its failure to report the change in Alexander Litvinenko’s theory of who poisoned him,

The Press virtually ignored a web of mysterious connections

…there was an active PR push behind the Litvinenko story

The focus of this report is on the coverage of the story, not the details of the case.

Actually, I think these ARE facts in the case because I think the media, or someone using the media, is trying to divert attention from the fact that a dangerous nuclear material was found to be surrounding people with terrorist ties who were trying to overthrow the democratic government of Russia. The fact is the PR push behind this smells of covering up something. The question has always been was it our side who had to do the covering up or some criminal element?

And to emphasize the questionable nature of the current claims regarding Lugovoi we have an interesting and telling picture from the day of the poisoning:

The picture, published for the first time, shows Lugovoi, his son Yegor, daughter Galina, 19, and friends before they set off to watch a football match between Arsenal and CSKA Moscow at the Emirates Stadium.

…

All Lugovoi’s family members later tested positive for traces of polonium.

The real problem here is still the timeline. Recall that initially it was Litvinenko who tracked Po-210 into Berezovsky’s office on November 1st before Litvinenko met with Lugovoi and Kovtun at the Millenium Hotel. Later, when it was assumed it was not Scaramella who contaminated Litvinenko at the sushi restaurant before Litvinenko met with Berezovskly, the story changed. Right now the timeline seems fairly broken since Berezovsky’s office contamination has to proceed the Pine Bar meeting. So how is this resolved with the new Lugovoi charge? I doubt the media, who have already tried and convicted Lugovoi, will investigate any more.

I do admit, though, the case for an assassination is still very plausible. But I still have a lot of doubts about it. Mainly the fact the Po-210 looks to be some sort of planted evidence. It also seems plausible that Litvinenko was attempting to mark Lugovoi, using business meetings as a cover, and accidentally killed himself. I still say this is an accidental exposure for lots of reasons. The question is what was the scenario surrounding the accident.