Havana Syndrome: Kremlin rejects accusation that Russia is responsible

The Kremlin has rejected the accusations that Russia is responsible for the mysterious Havana syndrome, which targeted North American diplomats. This is Russia’s reaction, after a US investigation blamed Moscow.

The suspicions began in 2016, when diplomats and employees of North American embassies in several countries (Cuba, China, Germany, Russia, Australia and the USA) suffered severe episodes of migraines, nausea, dizziness and brain damage.

A recent Pentagon investigation, published this Monday by the media The Insider, Der Spiegel It is CBS, pointed to secret activities promoted by Russia as responsible by the so-called Havana syndrome.

One of the authors of the analysis, Greg Edgreen, states that the “Russian nexus” is the common denominator in all cases. According to the investigation, Russian authorities have gone further and rewarded a military intelligence unit, 29155. Members of this group have been in all locations where attacks have been reported.

However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accuses the United States of a lack of evidence.

“This is not a new topic. For many years the topic of the so-called “Havana syndrome” was exaggerated in the press and from the beginning was linked to accusations against the Russian side. But no one has published or expressed any evidence of these unfounded accusations“, said the Kremlin spokesman.

Havana Syndrome

It was in 2016 that the first North American diplomats, posted in Cuba, complained of symptoms. It was in Havana that there were, in fact, more reports. By 2018, dozens of US Government employees and family members had shown symptoms.

However, reports quickly emerged in other territories: China, Germany, Australia, Russia, Taiwan, Austria and the USA.

The North American Congress approved, in 2021, the called Havana Lawwhich authorized the State Department, the CIA, and other government agencies to compensate employees affected by the disease during diplomatic missions

According to the US State Department, symptoms include a persistent noise, sharp pain and strong pressure in the head and, in the long term, difficulty concentrating and memory lapses.

There are also reports of problems with balance and dizziness, motor coordination, eye movement, anxiety, irritability, “cognitive fog” and brain damage.