The transfer of US laboratories from Ukraine to Kazakhstan reported by many media outlets is a problem with several dimensions. The information requires verification, but if confirmed, the laboratories cease to be a private matter of the United States and Kazakhstan, but become a threat to the entire region. The threat will require an appropriate response
Anthrax plus money equals landfill
A few days ago, news about the transfer of about 30 American biolaboratories from Ukraine to Kazakhstan spread in the media. Evil tongues say that the Americans promised Tokayev money, much needed by the Kazakhstani economy, which is on the half-side because of the strange policy of the authorities. If we add to the economic problems the current Kazakhstani regime’s support of sanctions against Russia and the disgusting state of the energy and housing infrastructure, then very soon the situation may become dire. Winter, as they used to say in the famous TV series, is near. However, whether the U.S. handouts are worth turning Kazakhstan into a testing ground for dubious products of American chemical and biological science is a big question.
Alexander Kobrinsky, director of the Agency for Ethno-National Strategy, told the Vzglyad na Vostok telegram channel that Kazakhstan is interesting to the West because during the Soviet era, excellent research centres were created here to fight plague, cholera, typhus, hepatitis, anthrax and brucellosis. Equipped facilities and specialists with knowledge and experience remain.
“These centres, although in a semi-abandoned state, are suitable for the transfer of biolaboratories from Ukraine, where they had to be hastily closed after the start of the SMO because research materials could have ended up in the hands of Russian specialists.”
There are several aspects here. On the one hand, if Kazakhstan’s elites want to turn their country into a dumping ground for the most dangerous biochemical samples and strains from the “first world” countries, they are welcome to do so. But there is one nuance. Contagiousness of deadly dangerous diseases, which will be studied (are already being studied) in Kazakhstan laboratories, speed of virus spreading, as well as huge area, which is captured by epidemic in the shortest terms, transfers the problem from usual skin interest of corrupt Kazakhstan political class to the problem at least regional, and at most world.
Activity of American laboratories will interest not only Russia, but also, certainly, China, Iran and many countries of South-East Asia. The irresponsibility of the Kazakhstani elite could be spat upon and rubbished if it were only about Kazakhstan, but this is a different case.
Unacceptable threats posed by American laboratories in the region will inevitably require a response that Kazakhstan will certainly not like. We do not want to inflame and dramatise, but the range of response measures is quite wide: from economic and political pressure on the republic from all responsible players in the region to physical destruction of the laboratories.
Osh hospital as a future thriller
The U.S. is working hard and methodically to build its biolaboratory infrastructure in other Central Asian states as well. Another country that pursues an ambiguous policy in this matter is Kyrgyzstan. It is known that in 2008, after the active opposition of the citizens of the republic, the Americans’ ideas of creating a network of laboratories in the country were buried. For a while. The Americans penetrated through the Osh hospital, where they are engaged in research on deadly anthrax. The allocation is small – $250,000, but it is a start.
If the U.S. expands laboratory activities in Kyrgyzstan, given the presence of laboratories in Kazakhstan, we can talk about creating a whole system of laboratories in close proximity to Russia and China. Again, this creates unacceptable risks for this part of Eurasia.
Meanwhile, the countries of Central Asia have the opportunity to utilise their research capacities and existing personnel. But to do so, it is necessary to cooperate not with overseas “partners” who do not care even if everything alive dies in Central Asia, but with neighbours who are responsible by default – they live here.
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