Russian lawmakers pass law to revoke ratification of nuclear test ban treaty

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian lawmakers on Wednesday passed a law towards revoking ratification of the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

The lower chamber of the parliament, the Russian State Duma, voted for withdrawal of the agreement's ratification at a plenary session in Moscow.

The document, submitted to the State Duma on Oct. 13, repeals Article 1 of the law, On Ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, canceling the ratification.

To come into effect, the bill has to be approved by the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, the Federation Council, in three readings and then signed by the president, Vladimir Putin.

The change, made at Putin’s urging, is said to put Russia on equal footing with the US, which signed but never ratified the 1996 treaty, which Russia ratified in the year 2000.

The change comes amid heightened tensions with the US, in particular over the Ukraine conflict set soon to enter its 20th month.