 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Russia Cannot Identify Origin Of Uranium Seized In Georgia
Moscow (RIA Novosti) Jan 26, 2007 Russian experts are unable to establish the origin of highly-enriched uranium that was allegedly seized from a Russian national in Georgia, as an inadequate sample was provided by Tbilisi, a specialist said Friday. A Georgian court sentenced Oleg Khinsagov, from the Russian North Caucasus republic of North Ossetia, to eight years in prison Thursday for attempting to sell 100 grams of HEU, according to the Georgian Interior Ministry. "About a year ago, our institute received an insignificant sample from Georgia. It was established that the material was regenerated highly-enriched uranium," said Igor Skabura, deputy director of the Russian Scientific Research Institute of Non-Organic Materials. He said the amount was insufficient for a comprehensive analysis, and that the institute had asked for an additional sample of material, but had received no response from the Georgian side. "We were therefore unable to establish either its origin, or the regeneration method used," he said. Georgian authorities said they had withheld information as the investigation sought to identify other suspects involved in the case, but that Georgia was cooperating with Russia and had sent samples of the enriched uranium for verification and testing. Three Georgian citizens in the case were also convicted and sentenced to between four and six years in prison. Another Russian nuclear expert said Georgia's arrest and sentencing of the Russian national was "a planned information provocation." "Georgia and the U.S. nuclear officials who have been investigating this incident for over a year decided to make this information public at the start of the Russian president's visit to India, at a time when the two countries planned to sign a memorandum on the construction of four additional reactors for a nuclear power plant in India," said Andrei Cherkasenko, board chairman of AtomPromResursy, a manufacturer of equipment for the nuclear power industry. Cherkasenko said Georgia had not informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (the UN's nuclear watchdog) about the incident, and denied Georgia's allegations that Russian experts had refused to cooperate in the investigation. He also said that the investigation had never produced evidence that the enriched uranium had been manufactured in Russia.
Source: RIA Novosti Related Links Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com Civil Nuclear Energy Science, Technology and News Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com All about missiles at SpaceWar.com Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Sandia Computer Simulation Monitors Traffic In Contraband Nuclear Material
Albuquerque NM (SPX) Jan 19, 2007A Sandia National Laboratories researcher has developed a simulation program designed to track the illicit trade in fissile and nonfissile radiological material well enough to predict who is building the next nuclear weapon and where they are doing it. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement |
