ZURICH: The head of the UN nuclear watchdog called for the release of the director general of Russia-occupied Ukraine Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, saying his detention posed a threat to safety and security.
A Russian patrol was arrested Ihor Murashov on Friday, the state-owned company in charge of the plant said on Saturday, and International Atomic Energy Agency said Russia had confirmed the move.
“The Director General of the IAEA Rafael Grossi expressed hope that Mr. Murashov will return to his family safely and quickly and will be able to resume his vital functions at the plant,” the agency tweeted late Saturday. .
The IAEA has contacted the relevant authorities seeking clarification on his detention, which they say has a “very significant impact” on him and nuclear safety and security standards. core.
The watchdog said Grossi is expected to hold talks in Moscow and Kyiv next week on setting up a protected area around the Zaporizhzhia plant.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Sunday that Grossi assured him in a phone call that the IAEA would “make no efforts to secure the release of the ZNPP director kidnapped by Russia”.
Mr. Kuleba also said that Ukraine is ready to facilitate the rotation of IAEA experts at Zaporizhzhia station. Several IAEA experts have been working at the power plant since early September.
“I stress that Russia must withdraw its troops and military equipment from the post,” Kuleba said on Twitter.
A Russian patrol was arrested Ihor Murashov on Friday, the state-owned company in charge of the plant said on Saturday, and International Atomic Energy Agency said Russia had confirmed the move.
“The Director General of the IAEA Rafael Grossi expressed hope that Mr. Murashov will return to his family safely and quickly and will be able to resume his vital functions at the plant,” the agency tweeted late Saturday. .
The IAEA has contacted the relevant authorities seeking clarification on his detention, which they say has a “very significant impact” on him and nuclear safety and security standards. core.
The watchdog said Grossi is expected to hold talks in Moscow and Kyiv next week on setting up a protected area around the Zaporizhzhia plant.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Sunday that Grossi assured him in a phone call that the IAEA would “make no efforts to secure the release of the ZNPP director kidnapped by Russia”.
Mr. Kuleba also said that Ukraine is ready to facilitate the rotation of IAEA experts at Zaporizhzhia station. Several IAEA experts have been working at the power plant since early September.
“I stress that Russia must withdraw its troops and military equipment from the post,” Kuleba said on Twitter.
