Michaela Rehle / Reuters
BBC: Russians' DNA taken by foreign agents, Kremlin says
The Kremlin says foreign agents are collecting DNA samples from Russians of different ethnicities and sending the data abroad for scientific analysis.
The agents were often working for foreign NGOs, President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Mr Putin told a Russian human rights committee that the DNA collection was "systematic and professional".
Some scientists quoted in the Russian media speculated that the data could be used in US biological warfare research.
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WNU Editor: The U.S. explanation is that they want a database to compare with other genetic databases .... Pentagon Explains Why It Was Collecting Biomarkers of Russian People (Sputnik). More here .... Russian biological samples ‘collected for research’ – US Air Force (RT). If what I am reading in Russian social media is any indication .... no one is buying this reason.
More News On The Pentagon Collecting Bio Samples From Russians
Top Officials Express Concern Over Foreign Collection of Russian DNA -- Moscow Times
Special services believe foreign NGOs are harvesting Russian DNA samples - Kremlin -- RT
Vladimir Putin Stokes Biological Weapon Fears and Memes, Saying Foreigners Are Collecting Russian DNA -- Newsweek
Putin: Someone is harvesting Russian bio samples for obscure purposes -- RT
