The key facts
- Vorontsov, at the First Committee of the UN General Assembly, claimed possible development of bioweapon components near Russia's borders
- The Foreign Ministry cited Tulsi Gabbard's words about funding of more than 120 foreign laboratories, over 40 of them in Ukraine
- Kyiv previously described cooperation with the US as research on infections and biosafety
Statement at the UN Venue
Konstantin Vorontsov, deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's department for nonproliferation and arms control, spoke at the First Committee of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. According to him, Moscow still has questions about the activities of research centers in Ukraine, and the nature of the work carried out requires additional explanations from Washington.
The Essence of Moscow's Claims
“An analysis of the projects carried out in Ukrainian laboratories allows us to conclude that the development of components of biological weapons was underway, or is still underway, in the immediate vicinity of Russian territory,” Vorontsov said. The Russian side links its questions to a possible violation of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, which prohibits the development and stockpiling of such weapons.
Reference to Tulsi Gabbard
The diplomat referred to statements by former US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard about the American authorities' years-long funding of foreign biological laboratories. According to him, we are talking about more than 120 facilities, over 40 of which, according to the Foreign Ministry, are located in Ukraine. This information, Vorontsov believes, strengthens the validity of the Russian claims.
Kyiv's Position
The Ukrainian side has previously rejected accusations of creating biological weapons. Kyiv stated that cooperation with the US concerned research on infectious diseases, laboratory diagnostics, and improving biological safety.
Context
The topic of American biolaboratories near Russian borders was discussed again in early October. President of the Kurchatov Institute Mikhail Kovalchuk stated that after the collapse of the USSR, dozens of research centers appeared in the former Soviet republics with the participation of the Pentagon, and American specialists gained access to collections of disease pathogens. He also expressed concerns about the possible military use of such research.
