Moscow - Greenpeace today released a confidential report from the Russian Parliamentary Anti-Corruption Commission detailing the large-scale illegal business activities of the Minister of Atomic Energy, Evgeny Adamov, and called on the Duma to reject the Adamov-backed plans, estimated to be worth $20 billion, to turn Russia into the world's nuclear waste dump.

The 19 page document lists dozens of illegal business activities by Adamov since the early 1990s. Adamov set up at least 10 companies both inside and outside of Russia. For example, on August 24, 1994, he set up the consulting and management company "Omeka, Ltd". Registered in Pennsylvania, USA, at the end of 1999, the company had assets valued at US$ 5,080,000, of which $3,150,000 were owned privately by Adamov and a further $1,500,000 by his wife. Currently Omeka has consulting contracts with Tekhsnabexport, the wholly owned import arm of Minatom, the company which would most likely benefit from any imports of spent fuel from overseas.

As an employee of Minatom, Adamov is forbidden to have any private business interests, however, the report reveals a complex business portfolio which for example earns him some $US15,000 per month via Omeka. Adamov worked from 1962-1986 as an engineer at Kurchatov Institute in Moscow, under Minatom, from 1962-86, as director of the secret NIIKET Institute, Moscow, under Minatom from 1986-98 and as Minister of Minatom since March 4, 1998.

On April 23 1999 Adamov declared during question time in the Duma: "... since I'm minister I have never received any business revenues on my private bank account".

Given the conclusions made, the Committee recommended that all information related to Adamov’s activities be submitted to the President, Security Council, Russian Federation Government, Federal Security Service and Prosecutor General’s Office.

The report further also states that in 1995 Adamov signed a contract with the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran for the design of a heavy water production plant for a nuclear research reactor, violating international nuclear non-proliferation agreements, to which Russia is a signatory.

"This is a wake up call for the Duma members who voted in favour of Adamov's multi-billion proposal for importing nuclear waste. They must now throw out the plan which is nothing more than a money making scheme for Adamov and the rest of the Russian nuclear mafia," said Ivan Blokov of Greenpeace Russia.

The report was presented at a closed session of the Anti-Corruption Committee on February 20th. It is likely that this was the real reason for the delay in the second Parliamentary reading of the controversial law amendments to allow the import of Spent Nuclear Fuel scheduled for February 22nd and now expected on March 22nd.

"Adamov has to be fired immediately and the activities of the Ministry of Atomic Energy must be investigated. Plans to import radioactive waste must be stopped when they come before the Duma on March 22," said Tobias Muenchmeyer of Greenpeace International.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
- Tobias Muenchmeyer +49 30 440 58 960
- Ivan Blokov +7 095 257 41 22

http://www.greenpeace.org/~nuclear/waste/russianwaste.html

Notes for editors:

10 companies that Adamov has set up:
01. 1990: "Forum of scientists and specialists for the Soviet- American dialog", Moscow.
02. 1990: Forum "Energopool", Moscow.
03. 1993: "Transpool", Moscow.
04. 1993: "Energo Terminal Service", Moscow.
05. 1994: "Omeka Ltd", Monroville/USA.
06. 1995: "Logic Realty", Moscow.
07. 1997: "Energopool", Delaware/USA.
08. 1998: "Allumincotrade", Moscow After appointment as minister.
09. 1998: "Rinsc Ltd", USA and Moscow.
10. 1998: "Agloski International Ltd", Nice/France.