Penza, 19 April 2016. PenzaNews. The official unveiling of the monument dedicated to the end of the chemical weapons elimination procedures at the Leonidovka facility in the Penza region was held at the intersection of Kordon Studeniy and Konnozavodzkaya streets on Tuesday, April 19.

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The governor Ivan Belozertsev addressed the people at the event.

“You know that the Russian Federation was always for preventing the spread of chemical weapons on Earth,” said the head of the region.

He thanked the Federal Department of Safe Storage and Elimination of Chemical Weapons, along with the staff and the personnel of the Leonidovka facility, for their work.

“The objective was completed successfully. We had no incidents or emergencies – which means all issues related to the elimination were thought through and well-managed. […] I bow to you for the work you’ve done,” Ivan Belozertsev pointed out.

Right now, the main objective is to retain the jobs at the facility, the governor stressed.

“We must do everything to conduct the sanitation of the facility in accordance with all laws and current requirements. And, of course, it is the objective of the regional and municipal authorities to do everything to find the post-sanitation investor to set up various facilities at the location which would work and generate jobs,” explained the head of the region.

In turn, Colonel General Valery Kapashin, head of the Federal Department of Safe Storage and Elimination of Chemical Weapons, pointed out that the way from the facility’s opening to the end of elimination procedures took a heavy toll on the people who worked in Leonidovka.

“They are heroes, I dare to say, because they showed heroism and courage. Sleepless nights, heavy labor. But the people braved through, the people solved the problem and liberated the Penza land from this blight of the 20th century,” he said.

In addition, Valery Kapashin compared the people who worked for chemical weapons elimination at the Leonidovka facility with the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant aftermath crews, and said that both situations required equal courage.

Moreover, the distinguished workers of the Leonidovka facility received awards during the event.

Also, Ivan Belozertsev himself received a decoration “For Contribution to Chemical Weapons Elimination.”