Disinfo: The coronavirus is an American biological weapon

Summary

The coronavirus is an American biological weapon. There is a an American consulate in Wuhan, where saboteurs could have acted undercover. The virus could be developed by representatives of a private pharmaceutical corporation.

Disproof

Conspiracy theory. This is a recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about the coronavirus.

In response to the outbreak of the corona virus the Chinese authorities have placed more than a dozen cities under quarantine. The World Health Organisation is working with Chinese authorities and global experts to learn more about the virus. The virus "2019-nCoV” comes from a family of viruses that include the common cold, and viruses such as SARS and MERS.

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Moskovskij Komsomolets (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 182
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 31/01/2020
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: China
  • Keywords: coronavirus, Conspiracy theory
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Disinfo: The MH17 disaster was carefully planned by Ukraine and Western intelligence agencies

The crash of the Boeing MH17 is the result of a carefully planned operation that Ukraine conducted with the support of Western intelligence agencies.

Jan 30, 2020
Disproof

An unfounded conspiracy theory attempting to undermining the Joint International Investigation of the downing of the flight MH17. A special team, known as the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), was established to conduct the criminal investigation of the downing of the Malaysian Airlines flight MH17. The JIT comprises officials from the Dutch Public Prosecution Service and the Dutch police, along with police and criminal justice authorities from Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and Ukraine. The JIT has concluded that flight MH17 was shot down on 17 July 2014 by a missile of the 9M38 series, launched by a BUK-TELAR, from farmland in the vicinity of Pervomaiskiy. At that time, the area was controlled by pro-Russian fighters. The BUK-TELAR was brought in from the territory of the Russian Federation and subsequently, after having shot down flight MH17, was taken back to the Russian Federation. The Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team (JIT), has concluded that the BUK-TELAR used to down MH17, originates from the 53rd Anti Aircraft Missile brigade, a unit of the Russian army from Kursk in the Russian Federation. See previous disinformation narratives alleging that MH17 was a false flag attack, planned by British and Ukrainian security agencies, that Ukraine conceals evidence confirming its guilt, while Ukrainian secret service manipulated a sound recording in the MH17 investigation.

Disinfo: US and NATO actions are escalating tensions in Caucasus

The actions of US and its NATO allies are not contributing to security and stability of the region. Washington and Brussels are actively developing military cooperation with Georgia and trying to turn the country into the main instrument for opposing Russia. The Alliance is committed to extensive military activity in the region.

Jan 30, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative on NATO belligerence towards Russia and on Russophobia. NATO seeks no confrontation with Russia. NATO is a defensive alliance. Its purpose is to protect the member states. NATO's exercises and military deployments in the Black Sea are not directed against Russia or any other country. NATO has reached out to Russia consistently, transparently and publicly over the past 29 years. NATO enlargement is not directed against Russia. Every sovereign nation has the right to choose its own security arrangements. This is a fundamental principle of European security, one that Russia has also subscribed to, and should respect. NATO enlargement has brought more stability and prosperity to Europe, including Russia. In 2014 at NATO Wales Summit the alliance agreed to offer Georgia a substantial package of assistance to strengthen Georgia's defence and interoperability capabilities with the Alliance. In August 2015, a NATO-Georgian Joint Training and Evaluation Centre was inaugurated in Krtsanisi to contribute to the training and interoperability of Georgian and Alliance personnel. The Training Centre is not directed against Russia but contributes to stability by making Georgia's armed forces more professional, and by reinforcing the democratic controls over them. The main goal of all the training of the Georgian military with NATO experts is to increase the country's defence capability. Read more about NATO-Georgia relations here. Similar cases can be read here.

Disinfo: The US is testing biological weapons in China

Coronavirus is a Western, particularly American project (of the CIA, Pentagon, or NATO), on the development of biochemical weapons to kill people with the help of diseases, not by bullets and bombs. It is much cheaper! There are over 100 CIA / Pentagon-sponsored secret and semi-known laboratories worldwide. These laboratories develop and test weapons of biological warfare.

Jan 30, 2020
Disproof

No evidence given. Conspiracy theory and a recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about the China coronavirus. In response to the outbreak of the coronavirus, the Chinese authorities have placed more than a dozen cities under quarantine. The World Health Organisation is working with Chinese authorities and global experts to learn more about the virus. On the basis of the full genome of the virus, it was concluded that 2019-nCoV is a beta-coronavirus that comes from a family of viruses that include the common cold and other viruses such as SARS and MERS. These kind of viruses are common in different species of animals and sometimes can affect people. There is no evidence to suggest it was developed artificially as a weapon of mass destruction. The conspiracy theory also repeats the recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the Lugar Lab in Tbilisi, Georgia. See previous claims alleging that Coronavirus might be US bacteriological weapon against China, The coronavirus is a biological weapon created by the UK, and A new Chinese coronavirus was likely elaborated in NATO biolabs.