There has been unanimity in Duma in favor of a bill on Moscow’s withdrawal from the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty at Putin’s request.

The Russian Duma has approved in first reading a bill withdrawing Russia’s participation in the nuclear test ban treaty.

The revocation of the treaty was adopted with 412 votes in favor and no abstentions. Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said that Washington asked Moscow through the United Nations not to withdraw the ratification of the said treaty.

Earlier Volodin had stated that Russia is withdrawing the treaty because of the irresponsible attitude of the United States in terms of global security.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week that the State Duma should consider withdrawing Russia from the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) on the grounds that the US signed but never ratified the treaty.

The 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty has been signed by 187 countries and ratified by 178.

For the test ban to take effect, ratification is required by 44 states that participated in negotiating the agreement and had nuclear power plants or research reactors at the time.

Of these 44, eight countries have yet to ratify the convention. These are China, North Korea, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Pakistan and the USA.

Source: Euronews

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