Russian parliament to vote next week on de-ratifying nuclear test ban treaty

Leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) Leonid Slutsky attends a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia February 13, 2023. Sputnik/Mikhail Metzel/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma, will vote next week on withdrawing Moscow's ratification of the global treaty that bans nuclear tests, lawmakers said on Thursday.

The Duma said it would hold a first reading on the bill on Oct. 17. Leonid Slutsky, head of the parliament's international affairs committee, said he expected it to complete its passage two days later.