Lithuanian nuclear watchdog shuns talks in Belarus after ‘denied right to speak’
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Astravyets nuclear plant. / AP
Lithuania’s nuclear watchdog has refused to participate in public hearings with Belarusian authorities after being denied “the right to speak”, it said in a statement on Wednesday.
Lithuania’s State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (VATESI) “has reminded [to the Belarusian ministry] that the vast majority of safety issues [at the Astravyets nuclear power plant] are still unsolved”, the statement reads.
VATESI has also called on the Belarusian ministry to suspend the commissioning of the first block at the Astravyets NPP until it implements “all safety measures, including those determined during the stress tests, as well as all other indicated safety issues”.