Russian lawmaker cites US hostile policy as reason for suspending plutonium deal

MOSCOW, October 25. /TASS/. The defense and security committee of Russia’s Federation Council, the upper parliament house, on Tuesday unanimously backed the law on suspending the Russian-US plutonium disposal deal.

"The key reason for this decision was the United States’ ongoing hostile policy towards our country, which had originated long before the Ukrainian developments, Bair Zhamsuyev, a deputy chairman of the committee, said presenting a relevant document.

According to Russia president’s envoy on that matter and Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, the key reason for suspension of the deal was Washington’s altering the plutonium disposal methods from the one outlined in the agreement.

The Federation Council defense committee, a co-executor on that issue, supported the law unanimously. "It is a serious signal to the Americans," Ryabkov said after the voting.

On October 19, Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, passed a law on suspending the Russian-US deal on the disposal of plutonium and relevant protocols. The measure was approved almost unanimously: a total of 445 lawmakers voted in favor of suspending the agreement, and one abstained.

Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted a draft law on suspending the agreement between Russia and the United States on plutonium disposal to the State Duma on October 3 after signing a relevant decree.

Apart from the direct provisions on suspending the plutonium deal, the draft law lists the conditions for the possible resumption of the accords. Among them is Washington’s cancellation of the Magnitsky Act, all anti-Russian sanctions, compensating for the damage sustained by Moscow and reducing US military infrastructure in NATO countries.