The Duma will consider the issue of revoking ratification of the CTBT by October 18

Until October 18, the State Duma Committee on International Affairs will work together with the Russian Foreign Ministry and other departments on the issue of revoking ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). About it reported press service of the State Duma.

“At the proposal of the Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin, the State Duma Council on Monday, October 9, decided to instruct the Committee on International Affairs to work on the issue of revoking the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty within 10 days (before the State Duma Council on Wednesday, October 18) together with The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and other interested departments,” the message says.

The press service recalled Volodin’s words that the decision to revoke ratification corresponds to the national interests of the Russian Federation and will be a mirror response of the United States, which never ratified the CTBT.

On October 5, speaking at the plenary session of the 20th annual meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club, Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted that Russia could theoretically withdraw ratification of the CTBT. He clarified that he cannot say now whether Russia needs nuclear weapons tests.

Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov explained that the possible withdrawal of ratification does not yet mean Russia’s intention to conduct nuclear tests. He clarified that the president primarily meant “the need to bring the de facto situation to a common denominator.” The Federation Council, in turn, stated that it could support the withdrawal of ratification.

The UN General Assembly approved the CTBT on September 24, 1996. The document prohibits testing nuclear weapons and carrying out nuclear explosions even for peaceful purposes. The moratorium applies in the atmosphere, in space, under water and underground on the territory of all states. The CTBT has been signed and ratified by Russia, most EU countries, Canada, and most of the countries of South America, Africa, and Central Asia. Signed but not ratified by the United States, Egypt, Israel, Iran, China and a number of other countries.