US State Department: Russia is spreading disinformation that coronavirus is a CIA bioweapon

Russia-linked social media accounts are spreading misinformation about the coronavirus. This was announced to AFP by US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Reeker and other employees of the US State Department.

The disinformation campaign began on January 20 in Russian state media and continued on social media the next day. It involves thousands of accounts in English, German, French, Spanish and Italian. At the State Department, they are associated with Russia because they have previously published pro-Russian posts about the situation in Syria, the Yellow Vest protests in France, and other international events.

Now these accounts, believed by the State Department to be run by real people, are spreading almost identical conspiracy theories about the coronavirus. For example, that this is a biological weapon created by the CIA, with which the United States is trying to wage an economic war with China and "promote anti-Chinese ideas." Americans, including Microsoft founder Bill Gates, have been linked to the spread of the virus.

“Russia is trying to sow discord and undermine the institutions of American society from within, including through covert and malicious [information] campaigns,” said Philip Reeker. Another goal of disinformation in the State Department is the deterioration of relations between the United States and China.

• The United States has previously accused Russia of large-scale interference in the 2016 US presidential election, which included spreading disinformation and promoting ideas beneficial to Russia through fake social media accounts.
• The spread of a new coronavirus infection began in China in December 2019, the first deaths appeared in January 2020. At the moment, the number of infected worldwide has exceeded 77 thousand people, the number of deaths is 2300 people.