"Russia has no need to ‘steal’ West’s data after its advances in coronavirus vaccine research" , - Comment by Press Secretary of the Embassy (Letter to the Editor of "The Irish Independent" (published on July 18, 2020)
Russia has no need to ‘steal’ West’s data after its advances in coronavirus vaccine research
There have been a spate of stories - emanating, not surprisingly, from London, - about "Russian spies stealing vaccine research" in the West. But for a novel change in the British foreign secretary's language in trying to substantiate these claims, this time it is "almost certain" instead of "highly likely".
What is certain, however, is that Russia has nothing to do with this story.
Moreover, it would be really difficult to explain Dominic Raab's insinuations in light of remarkable advances in the development of an anti-Covid-19 vaccine in Russia.
It has been a matter of public record for some time now that the Moscow Institute of Virusology and Microbiology has already successfully concluded a set of human trials of the vaccine and is aiming at the early production of the much-needed anti-Covid-19 instrument. There are at least five other Russian research centres which are at more or less the same stage of the vaccine development.
On top of all that, we have consistently proposed to the international community to join the efforts in fighting the disease within the framework of as wide co-operation as possible. Judging by this latest exercise, it is obvious that current leadership in London, Washington and Ottawa prefer otherwise.
Victoria Loginova
Press attaché of the Russian Embassy in Ireland
Link to "The Irish Independent" (July 18, 2020) -
https://www.independent.ie/opinion/letters/working-pensioners-deserved-100-increase-39377685.html
Link to "The Irish Independent" article "Russians accused of bids to hack Covid-19 research in the UK, US and Canada", dated July 17, 2020 -