Duma favours importing waste

Moscow - Russia's lower house of parliament, the Duma, yesterday gave strong approval to legislation allowing Moscow to import…

Moscow - Russia's lower house of parliament, the Duma, yesterday gave strong approval to legislation allowing Moscow to import nuclear waste from abroad, a move bitterly opposed by environmentalists.

The Russian authorities say it will permit Russia to sign contracts with China, Germany, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and Taiwan, earning $21 billion over the next 10 years.

The Russian branch of Greenpeace says it will turn Russia into a dumping ground for the world's radioactive waste.