Russian Federation Council: Approval of Departure from Nuclear Weapons Test Ban

The Russian parliament has passed a law reversing Moscow’s affirmation of the global treaty banning nuclear weapons testing.

According to n-tv.de Reuters reported that the Russian upper house, the so-called Federation Council, approved the law with a 156 to zero vote. The Russian lower house, the Duma, also unanimously passed the law. As a result, the country has withdrawn from another international security treaty – the move was justified by n-tv.de as stemming from frustration over the lack of action by the USA. The Executive Secretary of the CTBT Organization in Vienna, Robert Floyd, lamented Russia’s decision. “This decision is contrary to the new global determination to bring the CTBT into force,” said Floyd. 178 countries have ratified the treaty.

Signature of Putin still pending

The final ratification of the law now only requires the signature of Russian President Vladimir Putin. By its own account, Russia intends to resume its nuclear tests only if the USA plans to do the same. However, arms control experts fear that the country is edging closer to conducting a test. The West might perceive this as a threatening escalation in the context of the Ukraine conflict.

Image: Kremlin.ru, Vladimir Putin (2022-06-21) 01, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (image size modified)