Sergey Komarov, deputy director of Institute for Energy Development of Regions

— Rumors about incident at LNPP are one more stupid provocation

On Tuesday the residents of Leningrad region and St.Petersburg were alarmed by rumors about a release of radiation at Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant and evacuation of people from Sosnovy Bor.

This is one more stupid provocation. We have no information about any event — not mentioning a serious incident — happening at Leningrad NPP.

The automated radiation control system of the plant is open to the public and accessible on the internet. It says that everything is all right. So, there is no reason for panic. If somebody likes poisoning himself with iodine, it’s his own problem. Russia is not the USSR. Nobody will hush up information about a serious trouble. Rosenergoatkm Concern timely reports the population about any events at its plants.

“Unverified information” is not a reason for panic, hysteria, rush to drug-stores for iodine but it is a reason for creating a system of public awareness and response to such allegations.

Note

The radiation situation at Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant and in the nearby area is within norm.

The radiation background in the area is not higher than the natural level, which proves that the plant is operating safely.

The radiation background at Leningrad NPP, in Sosnovy Bor and its suburbs is 0.13 mSvh, which is normal background for this region.