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Disinfo: Coronavirus could have originated from Latvia

Summary

Latvia, which has enough talented biologists and pharmacists, could have created the coronavirus. Covid-19 can be used as a pretext to limit people’s freedom, so they couldn’t organize protests, and as an opportunity to justify an economic recession.

Disproof

No evidence given. This is another unfounded pro-Kremlin conspiracy theory about the coronavirus.

COVID-19 is not a biological weapon and there is no proof that it would have been artificially created. This coronavirus comes from a family of viruses, originating in animals, that include other viruses such as SARS and MERS. It was first reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan in central China and has been rapidly spreading across the world, with cases being reported in 150 countries, territories and areas by 16th of March 2020.

See related pro-Kremlin disinformation cases about the coronavirus outbreak, alleging that governments overestimate the threat, that it was born in a laboratory to infect Chinese, that it is an element of hybrid warfare and that the remedy has been developed in Ukraine.

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publication/media

Sputnik Latvia - Russian
  • Reported in: Issue 188
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 15/03/2020
  • Language/target audience: Russian
  • Country: Latvia
  • Keywords: coronavirus, Conspiracy theory
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Coronavirus was created in the USA, at Fort Detrick

The only possible origin of the coronavirus is the United States because only this country has all the branches of the evolutionary tree of coronaviruses. The original source of the COVID-19 virus was the US military laboratory at Fort Detrick.

March 17, 2020
Disproof

This is a conspiracy theory, presented with no evidence to support the claim that the coronavirus was created in the USA. This is part of the Kremlin's ongoing coronavirus disinformation campaign. Read a similar case claiming that the US is behind the coronavirus.

Experts at the World Health Organisation have concluded the disease first appeared in the Chinese province of Hubei.

Coronavirus: Western leaders sold their people for profit

Western powers are creating panic around the coronavirus. There can be only 3 true causes of the “pandemic” of the coronavirus, which, is probably created by the US:

  1. the global economy needs to be cleaned of the “bad blood”, so this will help to avoid a future crisis;
  2. on the contrary, try to lead the crisis in order to cash in on it and weaken its competitors;
  3. to use psychosis and oil market problems in order to mask the bankruptcy of one’s own policy.

The West is creating a “smoke screen” for the unprecedented pumping of money under the pretext of a force majeure to save the Western economy.

March 17, 2020
Disproof

An unfounded pro-Kremlin conspiracy theory about the coronavirus, blaming the West and accusing the US of creating it.

COVID-19 is not a biological weapon and there is no proof that it would have been artificially created. This coronavirus comes from a family of viruses originating in animals that include other viruses such as SARS and MERS. It was first reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan in central China and has been rapidly spreading across the world, with cases being reported in 150 countries, territories and areas by 16th of March 2020.

The Hague court did not recognise the sovereignty of Ukraine over Crimea

On the sixth anniversary of the reunification of Crimea with Russia, the Permanent Court of Arbitration refused to recognise Ukraine’s sovereignty over Crimea. The decision of the arbitration says: “As a result, the arbitration cannot decide on any demand of Ukraine, which is based on the assertion that Ukraine has sovereignty over Crimea.”

March 17, 2020
Disproof

Part of the recurring pro-Kremlin narrative that Crimea is Russian territory.

Ukraine filed a lawsuit against Russia on 16 September 2016, concerning the Kremlin's violations of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in the Kerch Strait and the Sea of ​​Azov. The Kremlin appealed that the Permanent Court of Arbitration does not have jurisdiction to consider this case, but the court rejected Russia's objections on 21 February 2020 and determined it would hear Ukraine's claims. Ukraine insists in its lawsuit that since 2014, Russia has hindered Ukraine from using natural resources from its own marine areas: including fish resources and huge oil and gas reserves. Also, that Russia impedes free navigation through the Kerch Strait. 

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Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.