The father of FSB-officer-turned-Kremlin-critic Alexander Litvinenko called his son a "British spy" and said he no longer believes Russian authorities were responsible for his death.
After his son's mysterious death of polonium poisoning in London in 2006, Valter Litvinenko had been outspoken regarding the Kremlin's supposed role in Alexander's death, a report on Channel One television said Thursday.
In 2008, Valter emigrated with his wife to a small town in Italy, apparently to escape retaliation from the Russian government.
But the father sent a letter last week to Channel One recanting his accusations and "asking Russia for forgiveness."
He said he now believes his son Alexander was working for British intelligence.
"I want to go home. Russian people ... no one needs us here," Valter said. The elder Litvinenko's wife died last year.
"Forgive me, my motherland. And help me return to my land, [help] an old man," Valter said.
