MOSCOW, November 30 - RAPSI. Investigators have uncovered that businessman Andrei Lugovoi was poisoned with polonium-210 while communicating with former FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko in London in October-November 2006, the Investigative Committee reported on Wednesday.

Former FSB officer Litvinenko died as a result of polonium-210 poisoning on November 23, 2006 in London. He met with Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun not long before his death.

British officials have accused Lugovoi of murdering Litvinenko, and stated they have sufficient evidence to charge him with the murder. Lugovoi said the charges against him are politically motivated.

However, Lugovoi has now been recognized as a victim in the murder of Litvinenko and the attempted murder of Dmitry Kovtun, Investigative Committee spokesman Valdimir Markin said on Wednesday.

The committee's Main Investigative Department is investigating Litvinenko's murder in the UK. The murderers may face up to life in prison, Markin said.

The British health protection agency reported that it found a large amount of polonium-210 in Litvinenko's body. The medical certificate stating the official cause of his death has not yet been published.