Screenshot of the video by Belarus 1 TV channel
MINSK, 7 October (BelTA) – In an interview with the Belarus 1 TV channel Russian political scientist and nuclear energy expert Alexei Anpilogov commented on the fake news and disinformation claiming that Belarus harbors plans to seize the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, BelTA reports.
"The Chernobyl nuclear power plant is our common pain. It is a shared pain for three nations, three states. Let me remind you that the contamination zone, the exclusion zone, covers not only the territory of Ukraine, but also the territory of Belarus and Russia," the expert said.
He noted that for a long time, the three nations had been jointly dealing with the aftermath of the man-made accident that occurred in 1986. "In this regard, what are the grounds to assume that someone is harboring plans to seize the Chernobyl nuclear power plant? The plant is not operational, it was mothballed as carefully as possible to prevent radiation leaks from the shelter, which has been modernized by Ukraine," Alexei Anpilogov noted.
"Therefore, I don't know what kind of twisted logic one should have to assume that someone wants to capture the Chernobyl nuclear power plant," the political scientist emphasized.
"Let me remind you once again that the plant cannot be used for its intended purpose. It's like a suitcase without a handle. It will soak up a huge deal of money and effort. Thus, why would Belarus or Russia need the Chernobyl nuclear power plant?" he asked.
The expert drew attention to the fact that several nuclear facilities, namely nuclear power plants, found themselves in the zone of hostilities after the launch of the special military operation.
"Of course, on the one hand, it is good that the IAEA has deployed a permanent mission to the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, this is at least something. On the other hand I would like to see a more vocal stance on the part of the IAEA. I agree with the president of Belarus that the IAEA should play a bigger role here, to become a significant contributor to peaceful settlement," the expert remarked.
"It should not just record the details of shelling the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, but offer a roadmap on how to prevent perilous situations. It could be done through the creation of a zone free from shelling and destruction, that is, from the deployment of heavy weapons. By the way, the Russian Federation agrees to this. Russia has completely pulled out all weapons not only from the territory of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, but also from the area around Energodar. There is nothing there, except for air defense systems, purely defensive in nature. I believe, the same should be done around other dangerous nuclear facilities," the political scientist concluded.
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