Foreign Ministry denies reports on the presence of laboratories for production of biological weapons in Uzbekistan

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied statements about the presence of laboratories for the production of bioweapons in Uzbekistan.

“The Republic of Uzbekistan notes the recent increase in cases of unfounded statements addressed to Uzbekistan regarding cooperation with Western countries in the field of biosafety, which allegedly poses a threat to neighboring countries,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. 

According to the ministry, rumors about the presence of laboratories for the production of bioweapons have no grounds.

The department noted that available laboratories are intended only for “diagnostic research and operate exclusively for peaceful purposes.”

Moreover, Uzbekistan, as a party to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons, prohibits the production and accumulation of biological weapons.

“We believe that any unfounded statements addressed to the Uzbek side create a certain tension in bilateral relations and, most importantly, damage the interstate trusting dialogue,” the ministry added.

Earlier it was reported that Russia was concerned about the biological laboratories of the Pentagon in the CIS countries, in particular in Uzbekistan. Moscow fears that biological weapons are being developed in these centers under the guise of studying dangerous infections.

The lack of strict supervision led to the emergence of American biological laboratories on the territory of the republics of the former USSR, whose activities are funded by the US Department of Defense. Such facilities are now operating in Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Uzbekistan and Ukraine, claimed the former head of Rospotrebnadzor, State Duma deputy, epidemiologist Gennady Onishchenko.