The head of the Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, instructed to open a criminal case on the development of biological weapons on the territory of Ukraine. There are no defendants in the case yet, it has been initiated in fact.
The UK stated that there is more and more information confirming the development of biological weapons on the territory of Ukraine. With reference to the Ministry of Defense of Russia, the agency reports on the existence of a network in Ukraine, including several dozen biological laboratories, whose funding came from abroad.
Later, a U.S. representative confirmed the presence of biological research facilities in Ukraine.
"All this may indicate a violation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and Their Destruction. The provisions of this convention establish the obligations of States under no circumstances to develop microbiological or other biological agents or toxins that are not intended for preventive, protective or other peaceful purposes. The excessive concern of US representatives about Ukrainian biological objects may also indicate the intention to use them for non-peaceful purposes," the Investigative Committee stressed.
Alexander Bastrykin instructed the investigators to open a criminal case. Investigating it, "all the circumstances related to the development of biological weapons near the territory of the Russian Federation, as well as the persons responsible for it, will be established."
The investigation will also request from the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation the necessary information to give a legal assessment of these facts.
Natalia Kozlova