TBILISI, June 27 (AVN) - The Russian troops group in the Trans-Caucasus continues deactivation of the former 137th base in the Tbilisi suburb Vaziani where three radiation sources were found on June 23, Colonel Alexander Lutsevich, spokesman for the group headquarters, said on Wednesday.
The detection of increased radiation background was a total surprise for the Russian military, Lutsevich told the Military News Agency. Headquarters specialists believe that possible sources of emission are devices used for checking and gauging aircraft equipment. Apparently they were left in Vaziani after a Soviet fighter aviation regiment was withdrawn in 1992.
According to Lutskevich, an expert of the International Atomic Energy Agency was invited to Vaziani right after the radiation source was found.
The Russian military placed two emission sources in special containers and made them ready for withdrawal to Russia. Their actions were praised by Iosif Kakushadze, deputy head of the nuclear and radiation safety service in the Georgian Environment and Natural Resources Protection Ministry. The third and the most powerful source will be excavated and placed in a similar container on Wednesday. It contains caesium-137 and the emissive power is estimated at 600 roentgen per hour.
The Russian military are taking into account recommendation of the Georgian party, Lutskevich added.