Russian nuclear physicist Andrey Ozharovsky was detained in Mongolia by officers from the migration service and police. According to Ozharovsky, he traveled to the country at the invitation of local environmental activists who are actively opposing uranium mining operations.
The detention occurred near the abandoned uranium quarries of the Mardai deposit, a location where the scientist was reportedly examining areas of radioactive waste accumulation. Ozharovsky expressed his astonishment at being located by authorities in such a remote and sparsely populated area, which he described as “mountains of radioactive waste.”
Despite the circumstances of his detention, Ozharovsky noted that law enforcement officials behaved courteously. However, he was not provided with any specific reason for his apprehension, nor were any formal charges filed against him. The nuclear physicist has since been transported to a department of the migration service, with further details concerning his situation yet to be disclosed.
