Customer Reviews

Death of a Dissident: The Poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko and the Return of the KGB

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I've been interested in this story ever since it first broke back in November, and I got this book after seeing an interview with Goldfarb and Marina Litvinenko on Charlie Rose. It is a fascinating look at the events that led up to Litvinenko's poisoning. The story begins with Goldfarb helping Litvinenko and his family escape to Britain via Turkey in November of 2000. The book discusses the relationship between Putin, Berezovsky and Litvinenko against the backdrop of KGB/FSB's rise to control in modern Russia. The book also discusses the Politkovskaya murder, the 2002 Dubrovka theater hostage crisis where 129 people were killed, and how these events and others may be related to the FSB. This book does not sensationalize for the sake of selling, but at the same time remains a compelling read. Fascinating, intelligently-written, and easy to follow along with, this book has offered much insight and inspired me to do even more research on these topics. A great read for anyone interested in analysis of modern politics and power plays.

Emotional and detailed account of events that lead to a tragic death of a former Russian intelligence officer Aexander Litvinenko.
Deep and competing political and financial agendas at play.
Great book, could not put it down untill finished!
Recommend to all who are interested in politics in general and Russia in particular.

I am always looking for a book that can take a complex subject and make it seamless. Boris Berezovsky fighting with Vladimir Gusinsky, Anatoly Chubais fired and rehired by Yeltsin, Chubais knuckling under to Putin, a surprise in the form of Vanessa Redgrave coming to the aid of Akhmed Zakayev, a former Chechen commander who the Russians try to extradite from Denmark, Berezovsky fired by Yeltsin but instrumental in advancing Putin, Roma Abramovitch's handshake with the devil, the Moscow Theatre hostage crisis, the Ryazan incident, good and bad Chechens, hundreds of thousands of dead Chechens, the re-empowerment of the Russian bureaucratic state, the oligarchs and dissidents verses the War Party, and on and on, in a tightly packed, gripping narrative. What Alex Goldfarb and Marina Litvinenko provide is context in the dizzying array of shifting alliances of post-Communist Russia. It grabs you the way Victor Kravchenko's book, "I Chose Freedom" did in the 1940s.

You feel for the incredibly brave souls, journalist Anna Politkovskaya, Duma members Sergei Yushenkov andYuri Shchekochikhin whose fate is death at the hands of the FSB; they are all tough, resilient, fearless and doomed. Yet Goldfarb and Marina Litvinenko make you feel for all these people, make you wish that we could do something more to help, make you ache for their tragic and vicious fate.

But in tragedy we see what Sasha Litvinenko sees. The joy of fighting back against people who care for nothing but themselves, and have no compunction about ruining the life of anyone who resists them. Like real life James Bonds, Litvinenko, Goldfarb and Berezovsky marshal their resources to poke Putin in the eye daily, taking their pleasures where they find them. Goldfarb takes you into the world of psycho-tropic drugs, binary, and nuclear isotope killing agents and you see that even in the face of utter evil, there is a network that stands fast against Stalin's progeny.

By the end of the book you have felt Sasha Litvinenko's intelligence, his wife's devotion, and the final understanding of his fate. His "J'Accuse" hits its target. Maybe in the next round, civil Russia, with the help of democrats like Garry Kasparov, will bring down the War Party, and it will be Putin who stands in the dock. In the meantime, Putin's name stands in disgrace, and we owe no small debt to the writers of this book.

Alexander Valterovich Litvinenko was a lieutenant-colonel in the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (formerly the KGB), who later fled to the United Kingdom, where he was granted political asylum. In November of 2006, Litvinenko fell ill and died under extremely suspicious circumstances. After his death, he was found to have been poisoned with the radioactive material, polonium-210. Alexander Litvinenko was the first man in world history to have been killed in an act of nuclear terrorism. But, who did it, and why?

In this fascinating book, Alexander Goldfarb, a Jewish-Russian microbiologist and activist, presents his story of his time with Alexander Litvinenko and what he learned from him. The book tells Litvinenko's story from his recruitment into the KGB, through his time amongst the upper levels of Russian society, and on to his post-defection work in the West and his eventual death. Along the way, the reader is treated to a thorough look into what happened in post-Soviet Russia, including the rise and fall of the robber barons, the rise and further rise of the security services, and what was really going on behind the scenes in all of the major events in recent Russian history.

Overall, I found this to be a gripping book, one that kept me spellbound for hours. Now, Mr. Goldfarb is not an entirely dispassionate critic of the Russian scene, and as such his view of events in Russia is bound to be slanted. But, that said, I found his history of Russia to be fascinating, and to be fully in accord with what many other commentators have said.

As such, I must say that if you really want to understand where Russia is today, and how it got there, then you must read this book. I highly recommend it to everyone.

A remarkable account of a decade-long relationship between three people - a president, an oligarch and a secret agent, which ended in a gruesome murder in London. A real-life drama, which is stranger than any fiction. Reads like John Le Carre. Outstanding!

After reading Politkovskaya's Putin's Russia & A Russian Diary, Klebnikov's Godfather of the Kremlin and Felshtinsky's Blowing Up Russia, I have to admit this book is excellent as it corraborates all the information and adds more details to the information printed in the aforementioned books. The only thing I believe is not accurately depicted is Berezovsky himself. It is true he looted, it is true he made his money in dubious ways like all of the oligarchs. Goldfarb's positive treatment of Berezovsky must have something to do with them being friends, but this is to be expected. Overall, however, Berezovsky is not a bda character and the book itaelf is excellent.

Picking up this book I thought it would read more like a biography of Alexander Litvinenko's life and events leading up to his death - a bit exciting, but mainly mysterious. What I got instead was an unexpected surprise! A wonderful book detailing first hand accounts of some of the corruption plaguing Russia which lead up to Litvinenko's death; making his death appear less mysterious but inevitable.

Alex Goldfarb and Marina Litvinenko should be commended for writing such a brave, and wonderful book. Russia, Chechnya, and the politics surrounding a lot of big players, (too extensive to list here), become less puzzling. I enjoyed the italicized paragraphs detailing events playing out right along with the story; so for a while I could easily follow the Chechen war.

I did have difficulty keeping up with all of the names, where even pronouncing them was sometimes difficult. This caused me to forget who someone was, which is important to understanding the significance of certain events. I ended up filling up pages and pages in a small notebook trying to keep the players straight. This may sound a bit tedious but it really opened up the story. I plan to continue further readings, so having this resource is helpful.

In any event, I think the book is best summed up with Alex Goldfarb's Author's note: "I have written the personal story with the benefit of firsthand knowledge. I have written the history with confidence that it conveys Sasha Litvinenko's beliefs and conclusions, and my own. I do not propose that I am a neutral observer. I do maintain that I am an honest one and one who, with Marina's assistance, can best speak for Sasha."

If anyone is interested in the movie that is mentioned in the book, "The Assassination of Russia," you can search for it online and find it free on many websites. Very compelling.

Many thanks to Goldfarb and Marina for writing a courageous book.

This is the story of former Russian intelligence officer Alexander "Sasha" Litvinenko, who in November 2006, was poisoned by the rare radioactive element polonium. Polonium is so rare that it is very hard to detect. In fact, in radioactive cases, hospitals do not try to search for it, and most health officials do not even know of it. It has also never been used in war or assassinations by any organization, whether governmental or terrorist. Russia is known to possess polonium, but according to the author, it is very hard to get a hand on it by individuals or terrorist organizations not supported by the Russian government. Polonium is only dangerous if ingested; it can thus be transported without risk. Only a minute amount is necessary to kill an individual. There are no antidotes. The reason it was detected in Litvinenko was because of his resilience and his survival time of a few weeks, which gave British health officials more time to solve the puzzle and detect polonium. Should Litvinenko have died quicker, the cause of death would probably never have been known.

Livinenko, who defected from Russia and became a British citizen, became the first man in history to be the victim of a nuclear terrorist attack. Within days, because of the nuclear radiation, he had aged almost 20 years! A few weeks later he died at a London hospital. The FSB, the successor to the KGB, and the Putin regime were suspected. Traces of polonium radiation were found on some airplanes originating from Russia, suggesting the terrorists had traveled from there. A pub and the Sushi restaurant where Sasha was poisoned were closed due to traces of radiation. You may recall in the news seeing British personnel in yellow protective suits (to protect them from radiation) searching the sushi restaurant.

Sasha's wife, who tended to her husband and was exposed to his vomit, was found to have been exposed to polonium. But the exposure was minimal and did not pose an immediate health risk to her. His children however were not exposed to polonium. According to the author, Scotland Yard knows who the terrorists are, and who is behind them, but the information is classified. Is it because of the political ramifications? Should such information be withheld from the public?

Ever since 1998, when Litvinenko denounced the FSB for ordering him to assassinate tycoon Boris Berezovsky (who's story is told of how he made his billions), he had set out to exposing the FSB's darkest secrets. According to Litvinenko, the FSB were responsible for the assassinations of oligarchs (government by the few), politicians, and journalists. He believes that the FSB were also behind the assassination of Ukrainian presidential candidate Viktor Yuschenko who was poisoned during his campaign. He also exposes the dirty deeds of the FSB during the war in Chechnya. Litvinenko warns the west that the KGB is back with a vengeance. For these reasons, many in Putin's government viewed Litvinenko as a traitor, and, according to the author, may have wanted him killed.

In an address to the Russian people, Putin flatly denied having been involved in the murder of Litvinenko, saying that Litvinenko is insignificant. But then all politicians lie, don't they? It is part of their job description.

The book revealed to me so many traits about Putin that I never knew, but I don't want to use this book to pass judgment on the man. After all, the author does say that the beliefs and conclusion of the book are those of Litvinenko and his own, and that he does not claim to be a neutral observer.

According to the author, Putin was on holiday during the Russian submarine accident that made headlines throughout the world. The west volunteered to help, but Putin refused any kind of help until it was too late. All sailors on board the submarine died many days later. They could have been saved by an immediate rescue attempt. During the whole incident, Putin remained on holiday. I found this shocking. Do his people mean so little to him?

The author reveals more of Putin's character during the Chechnya war and the atrocities that took place there. He also accuses Putin for the Moscow bombings and killings of innocent Russians. Again, we should not take the author's word, but we should keep an open mind.

The author also says that Putin never liked the west but only pretended to, and that when the occasion arises, he would separate from them. He also says that it was the Americans who kept him in power. You may recall hearing in the news a few months ago that Putin resumed his nuclear air patrol to protect Russia from a possible nuclear attack from the west. Is the tension of the cold war repeating itself?

I really enjoyed this book, and it opened many questions I never thought of before. I don't want to use this book alone to pass judgment on Putin and the Russian government. This book opened for me a door to learn more about this ex-superpower that might turn out be a sleeping giant.

This book also exposed to me the evil that man can do in the name of power. Do politicians sleep peacefully at night? Would the world be a better place without politicians? One thing is certain: in the name of power, man is capable of untold atrocities!

I think it is important first to dispel the false image that this book is 'about' the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko or even 'about' Litvinenko much at all. The book is primarily a memoir (and a good one) of Alex Goldfarb but apparently the publisher, perhaps rightfully so, thought it wouldn't sell if it were titled 'Boris and Me', which would be much more accurate. Thus the present misleading title and cover, complete with backward 'Russian N', capitalising on the murder of Litvinenko but spending very little time at all on it.

As a memoir of an interesting fellow who has apparently been in important places at important times, and who undoubtedly possesses very valuable insights and perspectives on the USSR-Russian Federation transition, the goings on of Berezovsky, and the rise of Putin, I found it a very interesting and informative read and agree with most of the postive reviews here. It's also quite well written.

Other than the misleading title, a minor downside is that because it is clearly Goldfarb's memoir, it is awfully self-serving and self-focused. In one random paragraph of four sentences, for instance, the author used "I" eight times. There seems to be no decision made anywhere concerning Russia that our man Goldfarb was not either a witness to or the main player in. The Yiddish term 'knocker' came to mind more than once while reading this book.

Overall, I give the book (not the title) an 'A'.

This book reveals more in what it never really touches upon in the National Bolshevism which is driving Russia which Litvineko was right in the middle of.
Picture like any nation an old leader in Yeltsin not capable of governing with a palace guard of the old guard putting an heir apparent next to Yeltsin for a quiet coup. Putin was that man of the FSB (KGB) who rode a very Moscow funded war in Chechnya fought by Moscow paid Arabs who spoke Russian flooding out of Asia.
Putin gains control and "in his terrorist war" is comrade to the west, but at the same time is meeting with China in a policy to drive America from Eurasia and is throwing out the central European banking cartels of Rothschilds from plundering Russia again. A new deal is made where the Rothschilds agree to launder money, but Putin has Russia holding the oil and gas prize to blackmail Europe with.
These are the secrets Litvinenko was shrouded by as the book lays the foundation for the operations he took part in before he escaped.

Such information could be discredited in the west by the old KGB propaganda wings still operating here, but the betrayal of leaving this Bolshevism whose manifesto is to drive America back behind her ocean fortresses to later be dispatched is the power behind the Litvinenko assassination.
Plainly the Russians chose Polonium 210 to tell the entire world they had done it. Done it to a British subject on British soil in British protective custody.
Britain, an nuclear power, was in that message like all of Europe told they did not matter and Russia would do as it pleased and would do worse when they intend.
That is what is meant by this book is the groundwork of World War III in Syria a Russian communist proxy assassinates leaders in Lebanon as policy and Russia has initiated the same policy across Europe.
In reality, Litvinenko, with his Polonium 210 murder was the first nuclear warfare death in Europe which will be followed by millions when these Bolsheviks cripple the west by oil blackmail and they move in another fabricated war like Chechnya into the Balkans.

This was a brave and telling book and my sympathies go out to Mrs. Litvinenko as her husband alerted the world to a message time and again which is proving true. The Bolsheviks of Russian communism never went away they only developed a proxy terrorist war against the west and still intend to goad China into a final showdown with the west where Russia is left ruling an empire of communists and Islamocommunist proxies.