"A doubtful benefit for the President" - that is how the Coordination Council of the Yabloko and Union of Right-Wing Forces (SPS) factions called today's refusal of the parliamentary majority to include an agreed candidate from the Yabloko and Union of Right-Wing Forces Sergei Mitrokhin in the State Commission for Control over the Imports of Spent Nuclear Fuel into Russia.

"The result of such a decision is the absence in the Commission of at least one representative from the deputies expressing serious doubts in the safety, transportation, preservation and recycling of spent nuclear fuel, to propose how to legally set a clear mechanism of control over the technological procedures and financial operations connected with the imports of spent nuclear fuel into Russia." This statement was included in the statement of the Coordination Council signed by its Co-Chairmen Sergei Ivanenko and Viktor Pokhmelkin.

The representatives of the two factions think that the Duma majority approving such a decision rendered the functioning of the Commission created in accordance with the Presidential Decree senseless.
The statement also notes that today's decision of the State Duma confirms "the worst apprehensions and speculations about the opaqueness of financial flows connected with the imports of spent nuclear fuel as grounds for abuse."

"Yabloko and the SPS regarded and still regard the laws on imports of spent nuclear fuel into Russia as they are today as dangerous for the future of the country. Recently in view of the growing threat of nuclear terrorism this danger has increased many times," indicates the statement.

Speaking before journalists today Sergei Ivanenko informed them that Yabloko was preparing a referendum on banning the imports of spent nuclear fuel into Russia and was holding consultations with many public organisations. According to Ivanenko, Yabloko is also going to do everything possible to facilitate the creation of the National Committee for Counteraction of the Imports of Spent Nuclear Fuel into Russia, which may join together representatives of many civil society structures.

Mitrokhin, commenting on the decision of the Duma, recollected that this was not the first case of "counteraction of the parliamentary majority to public control over the actions of bureaucrats in the situations of vital importance for the country." "The majority that obey orders from the top has already refused to create a parliamentary commission to investigate the circumstances of the accident with the "Kursk" submarine, and including a few deputies into the State Commission did not yield any results," stated Mitrokhin.

See also:

Nuclear Waste Bill