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Comment by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on US Senator Robert Menendez's letter to IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi

30 March 2022 17:48
671-30-03-2022

On March 28, Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Robert Menendez sent a letter to IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi in which he demanded that the head of this reputable international organisation take urgent steps (including in the UN Security Council) to prevent the subversion of Ukraine's energy infrastructure by the Armed Forces of Russia. This is a most drastic example of interference in the affairs of the IAEA. Its charter clearly states that in performing his duties, the Director General cannot receive instructions from any source outside the agency. Moreover, each member "undertakes to respect the international character of the responsibilities of the Director General and the staff and shall not seek to influence them in the discharge of their duties." Who, if not the head of the relevant Senate committee, should know this basic precept?

Menendez made an absurd call to the IAEA to prevent the transport of nuclear fuel from Ukraine and the dismantling of equipment for delivery to Russia. We will explain this expressly for the senator and his aides: it is Russia that sends nuclear fuel to Ukraine (the last time Russia sent it was for the Rovno Nuclear Power Plant in late February). The four Russians that accompanied the delivery are still being held illegally in Ukraine. They are compelled to read out, before a camera, anti-Russia statements that have been written for them. At present, they are still being held as hostages, and we are working for their release.

We have repeatedly reported to the international public that the Russian military has taken under its protection the Chernobyl and the Zaporozhiye nuclear power plants with the express purpose of preventing terrorist attacks. A group of Ukrainian subversives made an abortive attempt to attack the Zaporozhiye NPP on March 4. Ukrainian operators continue working at these plants and no one is interfering in their work. We support the efforts of the IAEA Director General to ensure physical nuclear safety at the above facilities. We are doing this in practice, as distinct from the hollow statements by US Senator Menendez.

It seems the Russophobic hysteria that has swept Capitol Hill has deprived US lawmakers of the ability to see reality. This is the only explanation for their endless calls for anti-Russia actions in authoritative multilateral agencies. These calls are designed to undermine the foundations of international organisations and turn them into appendages for the US' destructive policy. It is in this context that we view Senator Menendez's outrageous attempt to exert pressure on the IAEA.