On the International Day of Radioactive Waste the YABLOKO party
states that Putin-Medvedev’s policies targeted at turning
Russia into a dump for exported radioactive waste represents
a treachery of Russia’s long-term interests.
In 1999 YABLOKO’s parliamentary faction was the only faction
which jointly voted against amendments to the laws allowing
for exports of foreign radioactive waste into Russia (spent
radioactive fuel inclusive). Throughout the following years
YABLOKO has been protesting against definite cases of radioactive
waste exports into Russia despite different justifications
produced [by the government]. We have been always supporting
the position of dozens of public organisations and groups
of citizens voicing protests against such exports.
Today YABLOKO together with many public organisations is
taking a stance against the 123 Agreement with the USA which
broadly opens the doors for transfer of radioactive waste
into Russia, as well as exports of spent nuclear fuel from
Germany and exports of depleted uranium hexafluoride into
Russia from France for “recycling”.
In the past, during the cold war, huge territories in the
Urals and Siberia were contaminated by waste from nuclear
fuel recycling. Today it is not war, but purely commercial
and immediate financial interests of Russian bureaucrats which
lead to the same result – radioactive contamination of the
Chelyabinsk region, dangerous transportation of radioactive
waste via St.Petersburg and many other Russian cities, multiplication
of radioactive risks in Angarsk, Seversk, Dmitrovgrad and
other centres of Russia’s “nuclear archipelago”.
Our position is clear and unchanged: in accordance with the
international principle of equal environmental security, the
country producing nuclear waste should bear responsibility
for this waste, it is impossible to pay for ensuring health
of population in some countries with the health and welfare
of the residents of other countries.
Sergei Mitrokhin,
Chair of the YABLOKO party
See also:
Nuclear
Safety
YABLOKO
Against Corruption
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