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Russian diplomat calls out ‘criminal negligence’ at US biolabs

Maria Zakharova referred to an analysis by The Intercept, an American news publication, that uncovered violations by US biolabs in handling hazardous pathogens

MOSCOW, November 10. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova took to her Telegram channel on Thursday to call out US researchers on their negligence in handling biological materials in labs in the United States and around the world.

She referred to an analysis by The Intercept, an American news publication, that uncovered violations by US biolabs in handling hazardous pathogens. The paper, Zakharova said, points to hundreds of major incidents at US laboratories over the past 20 years.

"If this sort of criminal negligence reigns at US-based biolabs, how much care are US scientists taking for the safety of strains elsewhere?" the Russian diplomat wondered.

"Any potential leak could be a great excuse for conducting an inclusive external review - exclusively for research purposes, of course - and selling medication to the affected population. It’s a win-win lottery, a lethal one, though," Zakharova added.