Russian experts have arrived on the West Bank to take part in the exhumation of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat as part of an investigation into his death.
Arafat, who led the Palestinian Liberation Organization for 35 years, died in November 2004 in a military hospital in France.
A probe into his death was initiated by his wife, Sukha Arafat, after traces of radioactive Polonium-210 were detected in his belongings earlier this year.
Three experts invited by the Palestinian national administration will observe the exhumation of Arafat's remains on Tuesday along with teams of forensic scientists from France and Switzerland, RIA-Novosti reported.
The delegation of experts from the Federal Medical and Biological Agency and the Russian Center of Forensic and Medical Expertise will then take samples from Arafat's remains back to Russia, where they will be tested for traces of radioactive material.
The sampling procedure will last one day and be closed to the press "out of respect for the deceased," the news agency reported.
After the samples have been taken, Arafat's body will be reburied on the same day with military honors.
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
