MNEPR: Putin signs decree withdrawing Russia from nuclear pact

President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree in Moscow terminating Russia’s participation in the framework agreement and Protocol on the Multilateral Nuclear and Environmental Program (MNEPR).

The resolution was published on the website portal of Russian government‘s legal information on Saturday.

What is MNEPR?

MNEPR was an international initiative established in 2003.

It facilitates cooperation in ensuring the safety of spent nuclear fuel and managing radioactive waste in Russia.

The agreement also incorporated the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, and the United States.

Others are the Netherlands, Norway, Finland, France, Sweden, as well as the European Union.

The rest are the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Atomic Energy Community and other international organizations.

According to RT, a Russian medium, Putin signed the decree effectively terminating Russia’s participation.

Putin’s decision marks the end of Russia’s involvement in the framework agreement and protocol on the MNEPR.

The pact was initially signed in 2003 by Russia and other member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

The agreement sought to lay a long-term groundwork for multilateral cooperation.

It was aimed at resolving issues involving disposal of decommissioned nuclear submarines and atomic maintenance ships in the northwest of Russia.

It was also to provide framework for the cleaning up of spent nuclear fuel storage sites.

Why did Russia withdraw?

However, cooperation within the MNEPR agreement framework was halted during a period around 2015 to 2017, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Last month, a draft law was introduced in the State Duma, proposing withdrawal from the agreement.

The country’s lawmakers said the move would not entail “negative socio-economic, financial and other consequences.”

According to the MNEPR agreement, either party may withdraw upon giving 90 days written notification.

The notification ought to be served to at least one of the depositories.

The depositories include the Russian Foreign Minister and OECD Secretary General.

Federation Council Chairwoman Valentina Matvienko had previously tasked senators to audit Russia’s international agreements.

This, she said, will identify outdated or disadvantageous ones, which evidently included the MNEPR.

The latest development, international observers noted, crystalizes something alarming.

It rather shows the level of degradation of international relations among power brokers.

Relations with Russia apparently took its worst turn since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

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