MOSCOW, April 20. /TASS/. Russia and Armenia won’t allow third countries to use their soil for any activities in the area of biological security that would target the interests of Moscow and Yerevan, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in a joint statement that was published on the Kremlin’s website following talks between the two leaders.
"It was confirmed that the territories of both countries will not be provided for use by third countries for the purpose of carrying out activities directed against each other's interests in the field of biosafety," one of the statement’s clauses said.
The leaders also reaffirmed their determination to continue joint efforts against the novel coronavirus and other dangerous infections.
Putin and Pashinyan "noted unacceptability of politicizing the issue of the pandemic, calling for an inclusive effort to overcome consequences of COVID-19 and prevent infectious diseases from spreading," the document says.
The issue of biosafety regularly comes into spotlight over reports of US biological labs being created overseas, including in ex-Soviet countries.
Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said earlier that evidence of a US-funded military biological program developed in Ukraine had been found during Russia’s special operation in that country.