Kremlin dismisses report Russia behind ‘Havana Syndrome’
MOSCOW: The Kremlin on Monday dismissed a report that Russian army intelligence could also be behind the mysterious “Havana syndrome” ailment that has troubled US diplomats and spies globally.
Insider, a Russia-focused investigative media group based mostly in Riga, Latvia reported that members of a Russian army intelligence (GRU) unit referred to as 29155 had been positioned on the scene of reported well being incidents involving US personnel.
The year-long Insider investigation in collaboration with 60 Minutes and Germany’s Der Spiegel additionally reported that senior members of Unit 29155 obtained awards and promotions for work associated to the event of “non-lethal acoustic weapons”.
“This isn’t a brand new subject in any respect; for a few years the subject of the so-called ‘Havana Syndrome’ has been exaggerated within the press, and from the very starting it was linked to accusations in opposition to the Russian aspect,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov informed reporters when requested in regards to the report.
“However nobody has ever revealed or expressed any convincing proof of those unfounded accusations anyplace,” Peskov stated. “Subsequently, all that is nothing greater than baseless, unfounded accusations by the media.”
A US intelligence investigation whose findings had been launched final yr discovered that it was “impossible” a international adversary was answerable for the ailment, first reported by US embassy officers within the Cuban capital Havana in 2016.
Signs of the ailment have included migraines, nausea, reminiscence lapses and dizziness.
The Insider report stated the primary incident of “Havana Syndrome” signs might have occurred sooner than 2016.
It stated “there have been probably assaults two years earlier in Frankfurt, Germany, when a US authorities worker stationed on the consulate there was knocked unconscious by one thing akin to a robust vitality beam”.
US Congress handed the Havana Act in 2021 authorising the State Division, CIA and different US authorities businesses to supply funds to workers and their households affected by the ailment throughout task.
