NIZHNY NOVGOROD. Nov 23 (Interfax-AVN) - The Kirov regional authorities have denied reports of an accident at the Maradykovo chemical weapons storage facility, the regional government's press service has said.
"It is absolute misinformation. The regional authorities and federal agencies in charge of chemical weapons disposal have been closely following the situation at the Maradykovo chemical weapons storage facility. The situation is under control inside the storage facility, in the safety zone and in the shield zone," the regional government's press service said, citing Mikhail Manin, the regional official responsible for conventional weapons issues.
Lieutenant General Valery Kapashin, the head of the Federal Department for the Safe Chemical Weapons Storing and Disposal, supported this, saying "no accidents have occurred concerning the arsenal."
"I declare, there have not been any accidents at the chemical weapons storage facility," Kapashin said.
The military has confirmed that the chemical weapons storage facility is working as usual.
"Nothing has happened," a spokesman for the Moradykovo-based military unit, in charge of this arsenal, told Interfax.
Kapashin's visit to the arsenal had been scheduled in advance and the purpose of his coming was to discuss the second phase of the storage facility currently under construction.
Reports circulated in the media are "only stirring rumors," the spokesman said.