Russia begins de-ratifying Nuclear Test Ban Treaty News
© WikiMedia (Dmitry Ivanov)
Russia begins de-ratifying Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

Russia’s Duma voted on a bill to de-ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban (CTBT) Treaty in the bill’s first reading in the State Duma on Tuesday.

Members of Russia’s State Duma unanimously adopted the bill withdrawing Russia from the CTBT. Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin said the Duma could consider the bill by October 19. Volodin mentioned that the United States has not ratified the CTBT for 23 years and further stated that the bill is a response to the United States’ “boorish attitude to its responsibilities in maintaining global security.” He shared that a US ambassador to Russia urged members of the State Duma not to support adoption of the bill on withdrawal of ratification of the CTBT.

Every member of the 412-person State Duma supported the withdrawal of Russia from the CTBT; there were no votes against the bill, nor were there abstentions. Volodin stated on his Telegram that the purpose of withdrawing was to “ensure the security of [Russia]” and to “ensure that global strategic parity is maintained.” Volodin has been ramping up attacks against the US in recent days. Last week, he called Washington the “main beneficiary of armed conflicts” and that Washington was “fomenting armed conflicts for its own enrichment.”

The CTBT was designed to end nuclear explosions and to promote nuclear disarmament. 44 States have ratified the treaty, including Russia. Eight countries have not ratified the treaty, including the US, China, Pakistan, India, Israel, Iran, Egypt, and North Korea.

THIS DAY @ LAW

US Supreme Court ruled Indians not US citizens

On November 3, 1884, the US Supreme Court ruled in Elk v. Wilkins that John Elk, an American Indian who had tried to vote in a federal election in Omaha, Nebraska, was not a US citizen entitled to the protection of the 14th and 15th Amendments of the US Constitution. Native Americans became eligible for citizenship in 1887 under the Dawes Act, but only in 1924, under the Indian Citizenship Act, were all Native Americans born in the US made citizens.

Last public execution at Tyburn Gallows in London

On November 3, 1783, the last public execution took place at Tyburn Gallows in London, when John Austin was hanged for highway robbery. From the hanging of William Fitz Osburn in 1196 until Austin's execution, Tyburn served as London's primary location for public executions.

Learn more about the trial of John Austin.