An expert on Russia and associate of murdered Russian ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko has been shot and critically injured in Maryland.
Federal and local law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting in Prince George's County that critically injured a prominent intelligence expert who specializes in the former Soviet Union.
Paul Joyal, 53, was shot Thursday, four days after he alleged in a television broadcast that the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin was involved in the fatal poisoning of a former KGB agent in London.
Law enforcement sources and sources close to Joyal, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case, said the motive for the shooting was unclear. But several sources confirmed that FBI investigators are looking into the incident because of Joyal's background as an intelligence expert and his comments about the Alexander Litvinenko case.
Joyal was shot by two men in the driveway of his house in the 2300 block of Lackawanna Street in Adelphi about 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The shooting was reported yesterday by Channel 4.
Joyal's life was probably saved because his wife is a nurse.
The area has a high crime rate, so this shooting could be completely unrelated to his anti-Putin statements, but reading them now, one can't help wonder.
In the "Dateline" interview, Joyal accused the Russian government of being part of a conspiracy to silence its critics.
"A message has been communicated to anyone who wants to speak out against the Kremlin: 'If you do, no matter who you are, where you are, we will find you, and we will silence you -- in the most horrible way possible,' " Joyal said.
Joyal is still in critical condition.
11:27:04 PM 
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