Kremlin denies reports of a second plague case in Siberia

On Wednesday, the Kremlin addressed reports concerning a plague-related death at a research institute in Siberia, labeling the majority of recent media coverage as false. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russia has notified the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding the death of a laboratory employee, Darya Shipilova, in accordance with established medical protocols. He advised the public to rely exclusively on official updates provided by the national health agency, Rospotrebnadzor.

Responding to queries about potential diplomatic pressure, Peskov stated he had no information regarding an official request from the United States for greater transparency concerning the incident. He further clarified that no telephone conversation between President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump is currently scheduled, despite President Trump’s earlier claims that he intended to speak with his Russian counterpart soon. Regional Governor Igor Kobzev noted that a special commission is currently conducting an investigation into the cause of Shipilova's death to provide definitive clarity on the matter.