Oleg Ozerov, the Ambassador of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs who heads the Secretariat of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, asserted that the United States and its partners are establishing biological laboratories in Africa, framing the continent as a potential risk to their nations. He delivered these remarks during the roundtable on “Indivisible Security: Opportunities and Contribution of Parliamentarians,” held as part of the Second International Parliamentary Conference “Russia – Africa.” The agency credited with the report is TASS. [Citation: TASS]
The diplomat stressed that Africa is confronting what he described as biological threats. He noted that laboratories have been set up across the world, including on the African continent, by countries that he said do not grant ownership or control to local authorities. This claim was presented as a concern about sovereignty and safety in the region. [Citation: TASS]
Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, previously the head of the Radiation Chemical and Biological Protection Forces of the Russian Armed Forces, echoed the view that more nations are examining the rationale behind the United States hosting such facilities. His comments were framed as part of a broader discussion on the global distribution of biosafety infrastructure. [Citation: TASS]
Earlier statements attributed to Kirillov indicated that the United States had relocated biological laboratories to third countries in response to elevated accident risks, a claim presented as part of the same safety and security discourse. The exchanges were reported to be part of ongoing debates about how pathogen research and containment sites are positioned around the world. [Citation: TASS]