Vladimir Shikalov, head of laboratory of Kurchatov Institute

– Misinformation must not be left unpunished

I think that the present situation over Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant is the result of the activities of some “green” organizations. They keep spending big money on such provocations. They are spreading highly emotional but absolutely groundless rumors in the press. They are regularly appearing with hoaxes in order to compromise nuclear energy.

In reality, nothing extraordinary has happened at Leningrad NPP. Otherwise, the Crisis Center would have already informed us.

What can I say about the safety of our nuclear power plants? We have a developed complex structure of supervisory agencies, who are constantly monitoring the situation. This is a huge system with its own culture and history. That’s why everything in this sphere – from designing of a nuclear power plant to its decommissioning – is done publicly.   

I think that the provocation against Leningrad NPP has been plotted by organizations who pretend that they are in opposition to nuclear energy for ecological reasons but in fact just push their political ambitious and make money by means of manipulations and speculations.
 
I think that such actions must be punishable. Such people must be made responsible just like the people making false calls about planted bombs. Such actions must not be left unpunished.