The Russian public appears indifferent to the fate of Alexander Litvinenko, the former spy poisoned in London, with many seeing him as a traitor to his country, says Tony Halpin, The Times Moscow correspondent

The fate of Alexander Litvinenko may be hot news in Britain, but Russia's press is almost completely ignoring him.

With the exception of the English-language Moscow Times, which carries a front-page report and picture of the former spy in his hospital bed, none of the major dailies covers the story today.

A report in Nezavisimaya Gazeta, headed "London seeks facts", is buried away on page 10 and largely comprises a review of what British papers are saying about the case.

Most of the other papers seem to have taken their cue from the Kremlin, which has dismissed allegations of government involvement in the poisoning of Mr Litvinenko as "sheer nonsense"

But the lack of coverage also has some editorial rationale - the papers simply don't believe their readers will be interested.

Russians may be divided over whether the FSB had a hand in poisoning Mr Litvinenko, but they are almost certainly united in not wanting to read about it.

Those who regard Litvinenko as a traitor to his country are content to believe that he got his come-uppance from former comrades and see no reason for Russia to lose sleep over him.

Publicity simply plays into the hands of those abroad who want to damage their country, in their view.

Others have simply grown weary of conspiracies, however sympathetic they might be to Mr Litvinenko's plight.

They are quite willing to believe that the Russian state is capable of such actions, but simply shrug their shoulders that anybody else should be surprised. For them, it isn't news.

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