Ban Ki-moon, Deputy Chair of The Elders and former UN Secretary-General, said:

“I am dismayed by the Duma’s decision to revoke Russia’s ratification of the CTBT. This will further undermine the international arms control architecture and risks fracturing the global taboo against nuclear testing. As the former Chair of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) Preparatory Organization, I urge Russia and the other six nuclear-armed states who are not party to the CTBT to refrain from taking any steps towards resuming nuclear testing. At a time of growing international tensions and heightened threat of nuclear conflict, all leaders of nuclear-armed states must pursue dialogue and engagement. This is the only way to effectively manage nuclear risks and prevent the further erosion of global norms.”

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