OREANDA-NEWS. July 11, 2008. Today the Federation Council of the Russian Federation ratified the law “On the Adoption of the Amendment to the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material”

The Amendment provides a firm legal basis for international cooperation in the field of development and implementation of effective measures for physical protection of nuclear material. The Amendment fully meets Russia’s interests in the field of development of nuclear energy and combat against terrorism.

The Amendment was adopted in Vienna in July 2005 and is supposed to strengthen the regime of physical protection and to extend its force over nuclear facilities and operations with nuclear materials inside countries.

The Amendment says that the Convention shall cover only peaceful nuclear materials and nuclear facilities and that each state shall be responsible for the physical protection of nuclear materials and nuclear facilities available in its territory.

The document toughens responsibility for violation of the safety regime. Particularly, it enlarges the list of offences in the field of nuclear safety by adding to it such crimes as trafficking in nuclear material and sabotage of nuclear facility.

None of the crimes specified in Article 7 of the Convention shall be regarded as political and none shall entail refusal to extradite the criminals. In fact, the amendment is based on the principle “aut dedere aut judicare” (extradite or prosecute).

The adoption of the Amendment does not imply changes in Russia’s current legislation as Russia already has laws stipulating such measures.