Putin signs law revoking Russia’s ratification of Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

Vladimir Putin has signed into law a bill officially revoking Russia’s ratification of the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

The president first declared his intent to withdraw the country’s ratification of the agreement early last month at a meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi. Russia’s State Duma approved the proposal on October 18, and the Federation Council followed suit on October 25.

Leonid Slutsky, the head of the State Duma’s Foreign Affairs Committee, said that Russia will “continue adhering to its obligations under the treaty and to the nuclear test ban” even after the ratification is revoked.