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Russian officer denies Swedish dumping report

Published: 5 Feb 10 16:02 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/24822/20100205/

The former commander of the Russian navy's Baltic fleet denied on Friday that Russia dumped radioactive and chemical waste into Swedish waters in the Baltic Sea in the early 1990s.

"This is complete nonsense and a clear provocation, propagated at an international level," Admiral Vladimir Yegorov, who commanded the Baltic fleet from 1991 to 2000, told the Interfax news agency.

No official comment had been made by the Russian government on Friday afternoon. But Anatoly Kargopolov, spokesman for the Russian Embassy in Stockholm told The Local that it was most unlikely that Russia would have dumped such hazardous waste in the Baltic:

"We are not suicidal - it would not be in our interests to dump such waste in a sea that we share with Sweden."

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt on Thursday called for the previous governments to explain a television report that Russia dumped chemical weapons and radioactive waste off the shores of the island of Gotland.

According to the television report on the SVT network on Wednesday, the waste dumped in Swedish waters between 1991 and 1994 came from the giant Karosta naval base in the Latvian port city of Liepaja.

"The naval forces that were pulling out of the Liepaja naval base in Latvia in the early 1990s did not have chemical weapons, radioactive materials and waste," Yegorov insisted.

He added that the Russian naval forces were monitored by Latvia as they pulled out of the port and that the naval command acted "strictly within the framework of Russian and Latvian agreements."

A summit of heads of states of countries bordering the Baltic Sea is due to take place in Helsinki on Wednesday to try to solve the problems of one of the world's most polluted seas.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is due to attend.

AFP/The Local (news@thelocal.se)

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17:10 February 5, 2010 by Alex Coman
It is pretty hard to believe a russian official, but for me, being romanian and knowing how swedish authorities worked against Romania in 90, bullying for money on a false claim( you must know, your country was not ruled by angels, and it isn t now either, I think), it s hard to believe swedish part either. That must be a funny guy who pretend he knows the whole truth. You know, politicians...

Dicit ei Pilatus: Quid es veritas?
17:44 February 5, 2010 by Rick Methven
cu placere
03:34 February 6, 2010 by Davey-jo
He denies it; well, he would, wouldn't he?
06:14 February 6, 2010 by reader in USA
Would a Russian lie? Probably a first!
13:20 February 6, 2010 by ybelov
Russian officials will deny everything until they are corned with irrefutable facts. I know it all too well being a Russian myself. Remember Katyn.
14:37 February 6, 2010 by Audrian
What Sweden should do is undertake forensic examination and identify the culprit. It could be any private company from any country seeking quick profit.
20:19 February 6, 2010 by Vendorune
this is ridiculous story -- off Gotland? And Sweden doesn't have a navy?????? Some media people would do anything for publicity. I hope they get their license revoked or something
21:45 February 7, 2010 by moonskin
Hahaha, Latvians controlled the Russians when they were "under" them?!?!? :))) Could think of a more believable story :)
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