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Disinfo: COVID-19 is a biological weapon to make the planet’s population infertile

Summary

Coronavirus, COVID-19, is designed as a biological weapon. This is not just some kind of infection where you are cured and everything is fine. According to the results of analyses from China, at least 90% of men who have recovered, who had a mild form of the disease, became infertile. Essentially, this is sterilisation. If it doesn’t work out with LGBT, if it doesn’t work out with all kinds of child-free [ideologies], the planet will be sterilised with a virus.

Disproof

Conspiracy theory with no evidence given. One of many recurring Kremlin disinformation narratives claiming that the outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus is man-made.

COVID-19 is not a biological weapon. It 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.

While many baseless conspiracy theories have emerged all around the world amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, there is no evidence confirming the claim that COVID-19 affects fertility in people. An article recently published on the Hubei government's website and deleted a few hours later suggests that there is a "theoretical" risk to men's reproductive health. Dire consequences are rare unless people have chronic cardiovascular or respiratory illnesses.

Many other claims have been pushed by pro-Kremlin media since the outbreak started in January, for example, 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

News Front - YouTube, Russian [from 02:25 to 03:06]
  • Reported in: Issue 188
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 16/03/2020
  • Language/target audience: Russian
  • Country: China, US
  • Keywords: coronavirus, Conspiracy theory, health, Conspiracy

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.

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Ukraine recognised the Russian status of Crimea and the independence of LDNR

Ukraine recognised the annexation of Crimea. The Ukrainian authorities introduced new rules for crossing the border with Russia, according to which the peninsula is recognised as Russian territory. In accordance with the innovation, citizens in the territories of the DNR, LNR and Crimea need to apply for a biometric passport to travel abroad or a special pass to enter Ukraine.

March 16, 2020
Disproof

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

Since March 1 2020, Ukraine indeed has introduced new rules for crossing the border with Russia. According to innovations, citizens of Ukraine can cross the border with Russia only with a biometric passport for travelling abroad. Before, Ukrainians used to travel to Russia with an internal passport.

Coronavirus and economic crisis caught the EU by surprise because of its Russophobia

In the past six years, the EU has been focusing on the wrong threat. A large part of the European establishment became a victim of Russophobia and wrongly interpreted the 2014 events around Crimea. Furthermore, past decades of successful development made the EU too optimistic. Eventually, the coronavirus and emerging financial crisis put the EU in a state of instability which it is absolutely unprepared for.

March 16, 2020
Disproof

This message is consistent with recurring propagandistic pro-Kremlin narrative about ubiquitous Russophobia in the EU and beyond, oddly mixed in with coronavirus-related events. The response of the EU countries to the coronavirus, can be read here.

For background, read our analysis: The “Russophobia” Myth: Appealing to the Lowest Feelings and look at earlier disinformation cases alleging that Brussels uses Russophobia as a uniting idea to prevent the EU’s collapse, that Russophobia is the main activity of the Latvian state and that the Baltic states’ policies equal to Third Reich whereas Russophobia has become a Western value.

The reason behind the coronavirus scaremongering is to weaken China as a state

There is another significant reason behind the campaigns of virus scaremongering. A critical one is to try to weaken China as a state, by impacting negatively upon Beijing’s ability to spread its financial clout and influence across continents. As a result of the coronavirus frenzy, the Chinese government is losing leverage in dealings with the US and other developed countries while the US economy and markets could actually benefit from the coronavirus.

March 16, 2020
Disproof

An unfounded conspiracy theory. There is no evidence provided to support such claims.

See related disinformation cases downplaying the COVID-19 pandemic: mainstream media and governments overestimate the coronavirus threat; the coronavirus outbreak is a lie.