State Duma unanimous in approving Russia’s revocation of its Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty ratification

The lower chamber of the Russian parliament has passed the bill to revoke Russia’s ratification of the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

The State Duma expedited the bill through its second and third readings today. All 415 deputies present in the chamber voted in favor of the draft legislation.

Russia’s intent to revoke its ratification of the 1996 treaty (which had never been ratified either by the U.S. or China) was first voiced by President Vladimir Putin on October 5, at the meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club.

Head of the Duma Foreign Affairs Committee Leonid Slutsky has previously stated that Russia would “continue adhering to its obligations under the treaty and to the nuclear test ban” even if its CTBT ratification is revoked.