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Russia
From Moscow to Irkutsk, FSB's central role in epidemics control and dual-use research

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3 min read Lire en français

Satellite image of the Irkutsk plague research institute in Russia, on 8 May 2025.
Satellite image of the Irkutsk plague research institute in Russia, on 8 May 2025. © Google/Airbus/Handout via Reuters

The death of a research scientist in Irkutsk in early October forced the FSB to operate out in the open where it usually prefers to remain undetected. Over the last few years, the security service has seen its role strengthened in the fight against epidemics, high-risk laboratories and international cooperation over the plague and other pathogens handled by the deceased researcher.

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