“The presence in Armenia of structures involved in bio projects in Ukraine deserves careful analysis,” the Russian embassy in Armenia said. The message of the diplomatic mission notes that Moscow continues productive, mutually beneficial cooperation with Yerevan in the field of ensuring biological security.

The intensification of this interaction was facilitated by the signing in May 2021 of a bilateral Intergovernmental Memorandum of Understanding on issues of ensuring biological safety.

“A number of successful projects are being implemented in the field of combating infectious diseases, as a result of which effective monitoring of the sanitary and epidemiological situation, the exchange of information, the conduct of important scientific research, the provision of technical and methodological support in improving the laboratory network of Armenia and the training of specialized specialists have been ensured,” the statement said. “Thanks to bilateral cooperation in the fight against HIV, Armenia became one of the first countries in which the transmission of HIV from mother to child has been eliminated. Joint work using mobile laboratories transferred by Russia made it possible to prevent the release of plague and other dangerous infections from natural foci on Armenian territory,” the diplomatic mission recalled.

At the same time, the embassy noted that in the context of the implementation of the said memorandum on biosecurity, Russia still has questions in connection with the incoming information about Armenia's interaction with the United States and its allies in the biological field, including through military departments.

“The US Department of Defence is targeting its funded Center. R. Lugar in Georgia to intensify joint scientific research in the field of microbiology and epidemiology with Armenia and other countries of the region. The activities of private Western companies carrying out biological research in the Transcaucasia region in the interests of the Pentagon, and the presence in Armenia of structures involved in bio projects in Ukraine, also deserve careful analysis,” the message emphasises.

The Embassy of the Russian Federation drew the attention of the Armenian partners that the United States and its allies do not explain what they are doing in Armenia, near Russian borders.

“This factor, of course, is taken into account by us in the context of ensuring the biological security of Russia,” the embassy noted.

Earlier, the State Security Service of Azerbaijan (SSS) denied allegations by Russian officials that third party countries are conducting scientific research on biological weapons in Azerbaijan. A statement issued by the State Security Service of Azerbaijan said that such scientific centres have never operated in Azerbaijan, and no research has been conducted that could harm the health of the population or citizens of neighbouring countries. "It is unfortunate that such information is disclosed at international events, including the UN, without studying the position of the Azerbaijani side," the statement said. According to the document, representatives of the Russian Federation have repeatedly voiced their views on the operation of biological research centres in Azerbaijan, allegedly with the financial support of third countries, as well as in the framework of international events. "These views, put forward without any facts, are met with some concern by the public of our country," the SSS said. The State Security Service of Azerbaijan said it was ready to investigate concrete facts raised by the other side if they were presented.