The Central Council of the Yabloko party adopted a decision to initiate a nation-wide referendum on the problem of imports of nuclear waste into Russia during its meeting in Pavlovsk (suburb of St. Petersburg) on June 10, 2001.

It was decided to begin preparations to collect the 2 million signatures necessary to hold a referendum.

Even though opinion polls have demonstrated that about 90% of the polled opposed imports of nuclear waste into Russia, on June 6, 2001 the State Duma adopted at its third reading by majority vote amendments to Article 50 of the law “On the Environment”, which allow for imports of spent nuclear fuel into Russia for further recycling and storage. Yabloko was the only faction to vote against the adoption of the amendments at the first, second and third readings.

The Central Council also heard Grigory Yavlinsky’s report on the political situation in Russia and the tasks of Yabloko.

Based on Interfax reports.

See also:

Nuclear waste bill section of the web-site