Kremlin dismisses plague lab death reports as 'fake news'

The Kremlin on Wednesday dismissed as "false" the "vast majority" of media reports concerning the suspicious death of a lab technician in Siberia who worked at a plague research institute. The statement directly responds to widespread speculation surrounding the woman's death, which had raised concerns about a potential lab accident or cover-up. Russian authorities are pushing back against what they characterize as misinformation. The incident has drawn international attention due to the sensitive nature of the facility, which studies dangerous pathogens. The Kremlin's denial aims to quell public alarm and counter narratives of official secrecy.