ArmInfo. Official Yerevan allowed Russian specialists to visit bio-laboratories operating in Armenia, RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated in an interview with the Russian newspaper Kommersant.
According to him, the parties have made significant progress in the issue of biological laboratories. "Literally 10-15 days ago, on my personal instruction, Russian specialists were allowed to visit these laboratories," the head of the Armenian government said, adding that the specialists had the opportunity to enter these laboratories. "These laboratories are completely under the control of the Armenian authorities, and we are ready to cooperate, Russian specialists have already visited the laboratories and made sure that there is nothing terrible in them," the Armenian Prime Minister said, adding that these facilities are of very good quality. "I think it's very good that we have laboratories of such quality. This can in no way used against Russia. On the contrary, we invite Russian experts and are ready to discuss the issue of joint use. They have already visited the laboratories, and whenever they want to visit them again, there will be no restrictions'', the head of the Armenian government stressed.
To recall in 2016, with the financing of the US Defense Ministry, three laboratories were opened in Armenia - in Yerevan, Gyumri and in Ijevan. After their opening in the Armenian and Russian media, publications are periodically widely publicized that these laboratories are dual-use objects and can be used for military purposes for the creation and production of biological weapons. The US Defense Ministry allocated $ 15.5 million for the establishment of the reference laboratory in Yerevan, and the total amount of funding was $ 18 million. In Yerevan, $ 4.1 million was invested in the construction of the reference laboratory for the food safety department for especially dangerous pathogens of the RA Ministry of Agriculture. The US Government invested $ 9.8 million for repair of the reference laboratory of the "National Center for Disease Control and Prevention" of the Armenian Ministry of Health, ensuring the seismic stability of the building and creating the necessary laboratory infrastructure. An additional $ 1.7 million for both laboratories was allocated for the purchase of new equipment and furniture.