DISINFO: 73 people died as a result of experiments in Lugar lab
SUMMARY
The US has more than a hundred of them - in 25 countries of the world. By some strange coincidence, most of them are concentrated along the borders of Russia and China. There are 16 American biological laboratories in Ukraine alone.
Have any dangerous incidents happened there? Yes, as many as necessary.
In a Georgian bio laboratory, American scientists tested a new highly toxic drug developed by Gilead on humans. As a result of the experiments, 73 people died.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about US biolaboratories around the world, part of a years-long disinformation campaign led by the Kremlin.
The article does not present any evidence about the 73 deaths, as a result of experiments in the Lugar lab. The claims about a Hepatitis C treatment programme allegedly causing deaths have already been debunked but pro-Kremlin media persist in circulating them. Georgian officials have stated that the claim disseminated by pro-Kremlin media is "a stupid rumour" and that no experiments on humans are performed at the Lugar Lab. For more details read here.
In fact, biological laboratories are involved in preventing the risks of complex diseases and, together with other similar projects, counteracting bioterrorism.
The Lugar Lab is a frequent target of Russian disinformation. The Richard Lugar Center for Public Health Research is a facility of the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC), which became operational in August 2013. It is a top-tiered institution in NCDC’s laboratory network and serves as a reference laboratory for Georgia’s public health system. Read more about Lugar Lab on Myth Detector.