The Federation Council allowed the withdrawal of ratification of the CTBT

The Federation Council may support the withdrawal of ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). About it it says in a message from the upper house of parliament on Telegram.

“The withdrawal of ratification of the CTBT will receive support in the Federation Council,” the message said, citing First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs Vladimir Dzhabarov.

In an interview with the Vmeste.RF TV channel, the senator said that the withdrawal of ratification of the CTBT does not mean that tests will automatically begin, but “this frees our hands, if the need arises, to resume them.” He recalled that the treaty was signed by 44 states, of which 41 ratified the document.

“I think we have every reason to follow the president’s proposal, as legislators, and withdraw ratification. <…> I think the senators will support it, Valentina Ivanovna Matvienko, first of all,” he said. Dzhabarov believes that the statement about this had a “very strong effect” and “will cool the ardor of Western countries.”

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.

Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin reported, that the council of the lower house of parliament plans to discuss the issue of revoking ratification of the CTBT at its next meeting. He explained that this “corresponds to the national interests of our state.”

Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov explainedthat the possible withdrawal of ratification does not 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.”