Vladimir Putin ‘probably’ approved the murder of ex-Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko by polonium-210 poisoning in 2006 in London, due in part to personal “antagonism” between the pair. A UK judge put in to lead an inquiry, which No 10 no doubt hoped would sweep the affair under the carpet, has instead come out with startling conclusions. The Russians are fulminating and David Cameron is weaselling around trying to sound disapproving while doing nothing.
According to the Independent (uk) Litvinenko just before his death had published allegations that Putin was a paedophile, for which he said there was video evidence.
Putin, 7 Oct 1952 9.30am? St Petersburg, may regard this as a flea bite of an irritation but he is undoubtedly in a high-stress phase of his life with tr Pluto square his Sun/Saturn midpoint at the moment, repeating through 2016. Tr Uranus is moving to oppose his Saturn from later this month for four weeks; followed by tr Pluto square Saturn and square his Sun/Neptune midpoint from early March till late 2017. Tr Uranus opposition Neptune and then Mercury from late April onwards. So all in all his nerves will be shredded and he’ll be confused, uncertain, discouraged, pushing boulders uphill. It’ll test even his formidable stamina and self-belief.
His relationship with David Cameron isn’t showing a flicker of discomfort at the moment, no matter what public shows of defensive outrage are coming out of the Kremlin. Where it does start to show strain is towards mid year when Putin’s own chart is looking on edge and at risk.
The Russia 1917/UK relationship chart also hints at higher tensions from mid year.