Armenian political analysts associate "radiation scandal" with Russian-Belarusian relations

The information about the radioactive cargo, which was transported by the Belarusian airline, was in the accompanying documents; and the permit to transport it was duly received, the Ministry of Energy of Armenia has informed. The statement of the President of Belarus regarding the aircraft is an attack against Russia, Armenian political analysts believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that President of Belarus stated that on March 19 radioactive substances were found aboard a cargo aircraft that was passing via Gomel from Armenia.

The Ministry of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources of Armenia has explained that the aircraft delivered some equipment to monitor the operation of the nuclear power plant (NPP). The main customer of the works was the "Rusatom Service" Company.

The transportation was carried out in compliance with international standards, the Ministry has noted.

There are no direct air flights of Armenia to Belarus now, said Satenik Ovannisyan, the press secretary of the Chief Department of Civil Aviation of Armenia.

There are no reasons for Belarus’ demarche against Armenia, said Alexander Iskandaryan, a political scientist and the Director of the Caucasus Institute. In his opinion, the "radiation" scandal has to do with the crisis of Russian-Belarusian relations.

Ruben Megrabyan, a political scientist and an expert of the Centre for Political and International Studies, has treated Alexander Lukashenko's statement as another use by Belarus of the Armenian factor for solving his problems with Russia.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.