Statement by the Deputy Head of the Delegation of the Russian Federation, Deputy Director of the Department for Non-proliferation and Arms Control of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Konstantin Vorontsov at the Ninth Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention Review Conference under a right of reply on paragraph 10 of the agenda Review of the Convention Provisions, Geneva, 1 December, 2022

Unofficial translation

Madam Chair,

We categorically reject any allegations by the United States on Russia's involvement in the use of chemical weapons.

We consider the U.S statements on Article 9 of the BTWC as yet another provocation and attempt to undermine the Ninth Review Conference.

Taking into account the number of such provocations we have heard in recent days, the United States and their allies are not interested in substantive results based on consensus. Pursuing a destructive policy, they are trying to use the rostrum of the Review Conference to settle scores with the unwanted States instead. This is disappointing.

The poor thin Navalny case is yet another example of a brazen propaganda campaign by the United States and its allies in order to apply further political and economic pressure on our country.

It is crystal clear to any unbiased observer that, as in the case with Syria, the self-proclaimed fighters with impunity led by the United States are not interested in establishing the truth. Instead of a civilized dialog, the States Parties to the CWC are forced to confront hysteria around the alleged breaches of the Convention. In light of the aforementioned facts, the criticism voiced by those who stubbornly conceal the truth from Russia sounds extremely hypocritical.

It would also be appropriate to recall to the delegation of the Western States that Russia suggested including in the control lists all the agents labeled in the Western laboratories as "Novichok". However, we failed to do so due to the position of the Western States. Russia's position on this incident remains unchanged, we are committed to establishing the truth in this case. We reiterate our willingness to maintain a substantive interaction between law-enforcement agencies and relevant experts. We will continue requesting the Western authorities to provide exhaustive official information and comply with their international commitments.

Thank you.