Monthly Highlights from the Russian Arctic, October 2024
In this news digest, we monitor events that impact the environment in the Russian Arctic. Our focus lies in identifying the factors that contribute to pollution and climate change.
News
Publish date: March 13, 1997
Written by: Igor Kudrik
News
On March 2 1997, Erik Jurgens, rapporteur on the case of Alexander Nikitin,submitted his report to the members of the Legal Committee of the ParliamentaryAssembly of the Council of Europe.
When describing the case Mr. Jurgens indicates that the Legal Committeewas concerned especially about the following points:
Mr. Jurgens states in his report that he was shocked to discover thatin official publications and utterances, Nikitin was described as a traitor,a spy etc. – in clear violation of the presumption of innocence.
Concluding his findings, Mr. Jurgens states that although Alexander Nikitinwas released from preventive detention on December 14 1996, this by no meansgives the assurance that the accusations against him have been dropped.
"Considering the importance of the Nikitin case as a test case forthe rule of law in Russia, especially concerning the role of the securityservices and the Procuratura, and considering it also as a test case forthe possibility of right to be informed as to dire ecological hazards, suchas those deriving from the nuclear reactors on board ships of the NorthernFleet…, I propose to the Committee to regard the case of the prosecutionof Alexander Nikitin as still pending before the Committee, and to ask therapporteur to report any new developments which would necessitate puttingthe matter before the Assembly for debate and resolution," writes Mr.Jurgens in the conclusion.
Russia became a member of the Council of Europe in February 1996, thesame month as Alexander Nikitin was arrested. Rapporteur to the Councilof Europe Mr. Jurgens visited St.Petersburg on February 10 this year.
In this news digest, we monitor events that impact the environment in the Russian Arctic. Our focus lies in identifying the factors that contribute to pollution and climate change.
A survey of events in the field of nuclear and radiation safety relating to Russia and Ukraine.
A visit last week by Vladimir Putin and a Kremlin entourage to Astana, Kazakhstan sought in part to put Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear corporation, on good footing with local officials.
Russia is formally withdrawing from a landmark environmental agreement that channeled billions in international funding to secure the Soviet nuclear legacy, leaving undone some of the most radioactively dangerous projects and burning one more bridge of potential cooperation with the West.