‘Nevada-Semipalatinsk’ movement ushers new anti-nuclear era

‘Nevada-Semipalatinsk’ anti-nuclear movement dates back to 1989. It was spearheaded by Kazakh poet and activist Olzhas Suleimenov, a deputy of the KAzSSR Supreme Council at that time. With the support of the first secretary of the Semipalatinsk regional committee of the Kazakhstan Communist Party Keshirim Boztayev, Suleimenov raised concern over the activity of the Semipalatinsk nuclear site and urged to halt it after the radioactive gases leak.

Thousands of people gathered next to the premise of the Kazakhstan Writers Union on February 28 to protest against the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site’s activity. That day heralded the start of ‘Nevada-Semipalatinsk’ anti-nuclear movement that led to the closure of the nuclear test site in Semipalatinsk.

A delegation from the U.S. (Nevada) came to Kazakhstan to join a peaceful protest against nuclear tests around the world granting ‘Nevada-Semipalatinsk’ anti-nuclear movement an international status.