Russia passes 1st step to scrap ratification of nuclear test ban treaty

MOSCOW: Russia's parliament took the first step on Tuesday towards revoking ratification of the Comprehensive

Nuclear Test Ban

Treaty, blaming what a top lawmaker called the irresponsible attitude of the United States to global security.
Parliament's lower house, the Duma, voted by 412 to zero, with no abstentions, to approve the withdrawal of the ratification in the first of three readings.
Russia says the aim is to restore parity with the United States, which has signed but never ratified the 1996 treaty, and that it will not resume testing unless Washington does.