Russia rejects accusations of spreading virus ...

Posted: Jul 29, 2020 / 07:29 AM EDT/ up to date: Jul 29, 2020 / 07:29 AM EDT

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian officers on Wednesday rejected accusations that Moscow is spreading disinformation in regards to the coronavirus pandemic within the U.S., slamming them as "conspiracy theories" and a "persistent phobia."

U.S. officials informed The linked Press on Tuesday that Russian intelligence services were the usage of a trio of English-language websites to unfold disinformation about the coronavirus pandemic, in search of to take advantage of a crisis that the us is struggling to contain ahead of the presidential election in November.

The three websites published about a hundred and fifty articles concerning the pandemic response, together with insurance aimed both at propping up Russia or denigrating the U.S. between late can also and early July, one of the vital officers referred to.

one of the most recognized sites, One World, posted a response Wednesday, denouncing as "categorically false" allegations that it worked for the Russian militia intelligence carrier or changed into involved in propaganda or meddling.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday referred to as the allegations "some type of a persistent phobia."

"Russian media actively work to cover the condition with the coronavirus. indeed, when it involves Russia, it is going through this complex time enhanced than many different countries, albeit now not with out problems. indeed, all of the media point to appreciable complications that the USA are experiencing all over this duration," Peskov instructed newshounds.

"So during this case if any person talks about some type of disinformation, it is a few variety of persistent phobia, and there is no should blame goal and quality work of the media," the official noted.

Lawmaker Konstantin Kosachev, head of the international affairs committee within the higher condo of the Russian parliament, talked about Wednesday that the accusations are both "new conspiracy theories" invented by using journalists or "yet another hoax of yankee safety functions."

Kosachev delivered that "up to now none of the conspiracy theories" aired in Western media "has been demonstrated in actual existence."