The Russian side considers the decision of the US authorities to add two research institutes of the Russian Ministry of Defense and the State Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology to its blacklist groundless, and therefore intends to get an explanation from Washington, the Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said on Wednesday, answering questions from the media.
The notification from the US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security stated that US authorities had reason to suspect Russian research institutes of links to the chemical and biological weapons program. "Yes, we, of course, paid attention to the mentioned notification of the American Department. The situation is puzzling. Especially since no evidence has been presented. The familiar blurred wording is used, such as "there are significant reasons to believe," Antonov said.
"This ignores the fact that the international community, represented by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, in 2017 confirmed Russia's full compliance with the provisions of the relevant convention regarding the elimination of existing chemical weapons stockpiles. We would like to get clarification from our colleagues on groundless accusations," he said on the Embassy's Facebook page.
The diplomat recalled that today it is the United States that "remains the only owner of significant stocks of chemical warfare agents and under various pretexts is delaying their destruction." "We call on the American side to stop looking for problems where there are none, and to make every effort for the earliest possible chemical demilitarization," the Russian Ambassador said.
Blacklist
Previously, the US Department of Commerce blacklisted the 33rd Central research testing Institute and the 48th Central research Institute of the Russian Ministry of Defense, as well as the Moscow State research Institute of Organic chemistry and Technology (Gosniiokht). The notification clarified that in the case of the 48th Central research Institute, restrictive measures apply to all three of its facilities located in Sergiev Posad, Yekaterinburg and the Kirov Oblast.
The document stated that the US authorities have reason to suspect the 33rd Central research Institute with the "Russian chemical program and test site of chemical weapons", Gosniiokht - "with the Russian chemical weapons program", and the 48th Central research Institute - "with the Russian biological weapons program".
In general, a total of 60 organizations from a number of countries and territories are being blacklisted this time. This is not only Russia, but also China, including Hong Kong, France, Indonesia, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Switzerland and the UAE. "The US government considered that these 60 institutions were acting contrary to the interests of national security or foreign policy of the United States," the Ministry of Commerce said in a notice.
In practice, the US administration's decision means the tightening of the rules of the American export controls in relation to included in the blacklist. This is actually a ban on issuing them licenses that allow them to purchase dual-use products in the United States.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Valery Sharifulin / TASS
Based on materials from TASS