Russia: Duma Economizes Destruction Process for Chemical Weapons

Russia could halve the cost of its program to destroy chemical weapons by transporting them to three central destruction facilities instead of building such facilities at each of the country’s seven arsenals under Duma action yesterday. The Duma voted 342-0 to approve legislation to allow chemical weapons to be transported across regions, lowering the destruction costs from $7 billion to $3.5 billion.

Even if the measure is endorsed by the upper house of Parliament, however, it could face obstacles since it requires that local and regional leaders approve any transports through their areas.

Russia has the world’s largest arsenal of chemical weapons—40,000 metric tons. The nation ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention in 1997, but it has said that it does not have the funds to destroy its arsenal. It has asked to extend the destruction deadline (see GSN, Sept. 21) from 2007 to 2012 (Associated Press, Oct. 31).

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