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Disinfo: OPCW confirmed the absence of a toxic substance in Navalny's samples

Summary

[The creator of Novichok chemical agent] Leonid Rink, in his interview to Dmitry Kiselyov confirmed that OPCW did not find in Navalny’s body traces of a toxic substance. The main evidence is that no phosphorus fragment was identified in Navalny’s samples. Basically, OPCW found traces of something unknown. The fragment that was identified could even refer to a detergent.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the poisoning of Alexei Navalny. OPCW's report has been misrepresented. OPCW does not directly name Novichok in its conclusions published on the website on 6 October. However, point 5 of the summary mentions that biomarkers found in Navalny's samples "have similar structural characteristics to the toxic chemicals belonging to schedules 1.A.14 and 1.A.15". The chemicals in question have been added to the Chemicals Weapons Convention based on the results of the Skripal poisoning investigation. Both these chemicals are prohibited toxic substances from Novichok group, which means that the OPCW found traces of a known prohibited agent in Navalny's samples, which is definitely not a 'detergent'. As stated by OPCW's Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, "these results constitute a matter of grave concern". The UK Delegation to OPCW has also tweeted that ‘OPCW technical analysis confirms that traces of nerve agent from Novichok group were found in bio samples’. Read further debunking by the Insider here.

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publication/media

Ria Novosti (Archived)
voennoedelo.com (Archived)
Moskva.ru (Archived)
tut-news.ru (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 215
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 09/10/2020
  • Language/target audience: Russian
  • Country: Russia
  • Keywords: novichok, OPCW, Alexei Navalny, Dmitry Kiselyov
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Disproof

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Disproof

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Disproof

Conspiracy theory, pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative on Kyrgyzstan based on recurrent pro-Kremlin narrative that accuses the West of orchestrating "colour revolutions" in Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, and other states. The protests in Kyrgyzstan erupted to contest the results of the parliamentary elections that took place on 4 October, which are considered unfair by oppositional parties. As a result of the elections, none of the twelve established oppositional parties secured seats in the parliament. The parties declared they would not recognise the results of the vote. The President and the ruling parties were accused of vote-buying and voter intimidation. On 7 October, the electoral authorities annulled the election results. Pro-Kremlin media frequently use disinformation narratives falsely claiming popular protests around the world are incited and funded by the US and other Western states. It has been applied, among others, to protests in Ukraine, Venezuela, Georgia, and Belarus, as well as to present a deceiving narrative on the aggressive West constantly preparing new coups. See similar cases claiming that the protests in Belarus are a colour revolution conducted according to a Maidan scenario and that the West wants to prepare Maidan in Belarus.