Disinfo: The main goal of American bio-labs is to surround Russia and hit it with bioweapons

Summary

The main goal of the United States is different: to surround Russia not only with troops but also with bio-labs, which, in the event of a possible military threat, will make it possible to deliver a quick strike with the most unpredictable and deadly biological weapons.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about 'secret laboratories' on Russia's borders. See related examples of disinformation about the Lugar lab in Georgia. There is no evidence to claim that the US is developing biological weapons. Contrary to the claims of the pro-Kremlin media, the Richard Lugar Centre for Public Health Research in Tbilisi, Georgia, is a facility of the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC). The Lugar centre is a top-tiered institution in NCDC’s laboratory network and serves as a reference laboratory for Georgia’s public health system. In no case has this laboratory designed, redesigned or built biological weapons. Read more about the Lugar lab on Myth Detector. In Ukraine, the US supports the research against dangerous infectious diseases through the Biological Threat Reduction Program. In the wake of a disinformation campaign about the US-Ukraine cooperation to reduce biological threats, the US Embassy in Ukraine reaffirmed that the country offers its support to ensure Ukraine can detect and report outbreaks caused by dangerous pathogens before they pose security or stability threats. See related disinformation cases alleging that US laboratories in Ukraine are deadly; that COVID-19 brings attention to secret US laboratories on the borders of Russia and China; that the US is afraid of leakage of infectious substances on its territory so it builds secret laboratories in colonised countries.

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lenta.ru (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 200
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 20/05/2020
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: US, Russia
  • Keywords: laboratory, Biological weapons, US presence in Europe
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May 19, 2020
Disproof

Recurring disinformation narrative about Ukraine being a puppet of the US and a Russophobic state. Ukraine has continued to block access to Russian social networks for security reasons, as part of a broader set of measures by the National Security Council (NSDC) to expand “personal economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions)” against personalities linked to the Crimean annexation, terrorist activities, illegal border crossing and 468 Russia-based or Russia-affiliated companies. Ukraine is a sovereign state. The US does not control Ukraine. Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected by most of the free world, confirmed by the resolutions of the United Nations but violated by Russia. The relations between the US and Ukraine are bilateral relations between two independent countries. The US recognised Ukraine as an independent state on 25 December 1991. Since then, Washington has been working closely with Ukraine; assisting in the democratic development of the country and helping Ukraine to withstand Russian aggression. U.S. policy has since been centred on realising and strengthening a stable, democratic, prosperous and free Ukraine closely integrated into Europe and Euro-Atlantic structures. See more examples of disinformation narratives: There is no Ukraine; Ukrainians are Russians, not Ukrainians; The myth that Ukraine is a separate nation was created in the Soviet Union.

Disinfo: US trains ISIS in Syria

The US military based in Syria is actively cooperating with ISIS. The American intelligence services created the Islamic State, taking into account the practice of working with the terrorist organisation of the Taliban. The support of the militants was necessary for the United States in order to draw the USSR into the Afghan war.

May 19, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative claiming that the US is supporting or working together with ISIS in the Middle East. This message is part of a broader conspiracy theory alleging that the United States has created and supports many jihadi terrorist organisations and controls global terrorism. In reality, the US is committed to fighting terrorist organisations, such as Daesh and Al-Qaeda. Ever since the September 11 terrorist attacks, the US and its allies have been engaged in military and intelligence efforts to counter Al Qaeda, ISIS and other radical Islamist terrorist groups around the world. Read similar cases claiming that ISIS has been supported by US, British, French and Israeli intelligence services in order to demolish Syria and that Al Baghdadi was an American product.

Disinfo: German politicians no longer require Russia to return Crimea to Ukraine

Unlike in previous years, Germany does not demand the return of Crimea to Ukraine. “We honour the memory of the victims of the deportation of the Crimean Tatars on May 18, 1944. It is sad that after 76 years they can’t live in freedom and self-determination in their homeland,” reported a message from the Embassy of Germany in Kyiv.

May 19, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the annexation of Crimea. The statement from the German embassy has been distorted through partial reporting. It goes on to say, "Since the annexation of the Crimean peninsula by Russia in violation of international law, the situation of the Crimean Tatars has deteriorated dramatically." Germany has repeatedly stated on other occasions that it will not recognise the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation and supports Ukraine's national and territorial sovereignty. The country's view has not changed over recent years. For example, on the anniversary of the annexation of Crimea in February 2020, the Embassy of Germany made one more statement related to the Crimea: “Six years later our position is clear: we do not recognise the annexation of Crimea.” The European Union likewise does not recognise Crimea's annexation and continues to condemn it as a violation of international law. EU sanctions continue to be in place against Russia as a consequence for the annexation. For similar cases, see here.