Russia: Samples from Chernobyl affected regions in court

June, 28th Greenpeace presented results of measuring cesium-137 contamination of soil samples to the Supreme court of Russia. 53 inhabitants of different Chernobyl affected towns and villages in Bryansk were appealing an earlier court decision, which let stay the governmental decree to downgrade or lift the status of some villages and towns in contaminated zones.

The government claims, due to cs-137 decay, Chernobyl contamination is substantially reduced. Institute 'Taifun' has not taken samples in most of these towns and villages recently, but just re-calculated earlier results of samples taken in 1980ies and 1990ies. The decree led to lifting of social priviledges as well.

To support the local community, Greenpeace Russia took soil samples in April, and calculated soil contamination areal density, which is the main criterion of the legislation on contaminated zones. One soil sample taken in the village Staryye Bobovichi should be classified according to Russian norms as radioactive waste (14 000 Bq/kg), contamination near local club and school are high. The supreme court refused the appeal (written decision will be received later), but the local community is going to address the presidium of the Supreme court and the European court of human rights.

Photo of Staryye Bobovichi school by Greg McNevin:
 * http://media.greenpeace.org/archive/Light-Painting--Nuclear-Radiation-Testing-in-Bryansk-Region-in-Russia-27MZIFJ6UIQ_B.html

In Russian:
 * http://www.greenpeace.org/russia/ru/news/2016/06-29-chernobyl/

Two blogs in English:
 * http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/nuclear-reaction/chernobyl-nuclear-disaster/blog/56082/
 * http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/nuclear-reaction/chernobyl-and-fukushima-side-by-side/blog/55795/