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Disinfo: Plans to close biolabs in Ukraine made US start supporting Euromaidan

Summary

The coronavirus pandemic and the rumours of its artificial origins have activated the discussion on US biolabs, located around Russian borders. Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and, of course, Ukraine are covered by a network of laboratories, funded by Pentagon money. Attempts to rid oneself of these disputable institutions might even lead to an overturn of the powers in a country. […] The laboratories was one of the factors that drove the Americans to actively work for a regime change in Ukraine.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative alleging that the 2013-14 Ukrainian revolution was caused by external factors mixed with a narrative about American biological laboratories in Ukraine.

The U.S. did not initiate the 2013-14 Ukrainian revolution. The demonstrations which began in Kyiv in November 2013 – called "Maidan", or "Euromaidan" – were a result of the Ukrainian people's frustration with former President Yanukovych's last-minute U-turn when, after seven years of negotiation, he refused to sign the EU–Ukraine Association Agreement and halted progress towards Ukraine's closer relationship with the EU as a result of Russian pressure.

Furthermore, there are no U.S. laboratories in Ukraine. The Ukrainian government is a member of the U.S. Department of Defence’s Biological Threat Reduction Programme that works on a number of programmes to consolidate and secure pathogens and toxins of security concern in Ukrainian government facilities while allowing for peaceful research and vaccine development.

"We also work with our Ukrainian partners to ensure Ukraine can detect and report outbreaks caused by dangerous pathogens before they pose security or stability threats", the U.S. Embassy stated.

Ukraine together with the European Union, the United States, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Uzbekistan is also a member of the Science and Technology Centre in Ukraine that seeks to advance global peace and prosperity through cooperative Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) risk mitigation.

See similar claims alleging that the US laboratories in Ukraine are deadly, claims linking the current COVID-19 epidemic and US biolaboratories in Ukraine and that the US is building its laboratories in other countries to avoid the leakage of infectious substances on its territory.

 

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publication/media

Moskovskij Komsomolets (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 195
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 29/04/2020
  • Language/target audience: Russian
  • Country: Ukraine, US
  • Keywords: Ukraine, Biological weapons, Coup, Euromaidan

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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Ukrainian government and Maidan leaders are guilty of the May 2, 2014 Odesa tragedy

Everyone knows that it was Parubiy [one of the leaders of the Euromaidan and the former speaker of the parliament] who organised the Odesa Khatyn [the fire in the House of the Trade Unions], resulting in 48 deaths and more than 250 people injured. Most of the victims of the tragedy were burned alive in the House of Trade Unions. The investigation established that riots in Odesa were organised and planned.

May 04, 2020
Disproof

Pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about May 2, 2014 clashes in Odesa and the resulting fire in the House of the Trade Unions.

There is no evidence of Andriy Parubiy's involvement in the 2014 Odesa tragedy. At the time, Andriy Parubiy was the Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council.

Coronavirus may be the latest step in NATO’s containment strategy against China

It may be not coincidental that the coronavirus pandemic exploded in China right after the US tried every measure to end with the Chinese: a tariff war, blocking Huawei from 5G platforms, promulgating a so-called “law on Human Rights and Democracy” in support of demonstrators who were calling for Hong Kong’s independence, and pressing NATO to declare China as a threat. NATO is preparing to expand itself towards the Pacific to surround China, following the Containment Theory.

May 04, 2020
Disproof

Conspiracy theory, with no evidence provided to support it. Though debates on the convenience of expanding NATO to Pacific and Asian countries are a reality, there is no proof that any concrete step has been already taken in this direction, contrary to the claims.

Suggestions that the Covid-19 outbreak may be some kind of tool in the US strategic competition with China are part of Russia’s disinformation campaign on coronavirus, mixed with a recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about alleged Western efforts to encircle both Russia and China. This campaign has been well documented by both media and governments, and some of its elements were widely reported by Russian and international publications and by the European External Action Service.

Georgia and the Lugar Lab intentionally infecting South Ossetians with COVID-19

American and Georgian specialists who are working on the creation and modification of various pathogens of dangerous diseases in the Lugar Lab are trying to collect biological samples of COVID-19 from South Ossetian citizens. Due to the inability to implement this plan in the territory of South Ossetia, it is possible that the biological samples will be collected from potential violators of the state border. As these manipulations are carried out under the control of the State Security Service of Georgia and US Defense Intelligence Agency, there are real preconditions for the deliberate infection of South Ossetian citizens.

May 04, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative concerning the coronavirus pandemic and the Tbilisi-based Lugar Lab.

This is not the first time that the Lugar Lab and Georgia have been accused of spreading diseases on its occupied territories. See a similar disinformation case here.