Russians Leave Cesium and Landmines Behind in Georgia
Georgian authorities reported yesterday that a source of radiation and abandoned mines were found at the former Russian military base in Akhalkalaki. Representative of the Georgian Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Avtandil Meskhi stated that Georgian specialists discovered capsules of Cesium-137 in lead containers. Meskhi acknowledged that the capsules did not present a danger to the public, but nonetheless criticized the Russian military. “When they left the base several weeks ago, they said that the territory was completely free of radioactive material, but they didn't keep their promise,” he noted.
The capsules were taken to a special Defense Ministry burial ground yesterday. Meskhi said that, in the mid-1990s, after the withdrawal of Russian forces from Georgia, more than 100 sources of radiation were found in their former facilities.
The Georgian Defense Ministry reported yesterday that mines had been abandoned at Akhalkalaki as well. A ministry spokesman said that specialists had been called in to defuse them. The ministry spokesman recalled that that was the second instance when abandoned mines and weapons had been found on the base. “More than a month ago, ammunition was found buried, along with antitank mines, antipersonnel mines and cartridge shells,” he said.
Pavel Belov
All the Article in Russian as of Aug. 17, 2007
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