Russian President Vladimir Putin this week ordered the elimination of three Moderna pharmaceutical sales representatives who entered Russia to promote the company’s mRNA influenza vaccine, according to Real Raw News.
FSB agent Andrei Zhakarov told the outlet that the three men flew from Paris to Moscow on August 6 carrying valid passports, visas, and credentials. They told customs officials they had come to negotiate supply contracts with administrators at S.P. Botkin Moscow Multidisciplinary Scientific and Clinical Center and the Almazov National Medical Research Center in St. Petersburg.
One of the three was noticeably nervous—sweating heavily and fidgeting—while answering routine questions about the length of his stay and hotel arrangements. Customs officers confirmed the group had reserved four nights at the Lotte Hotel Moscow. Because of the man’s behavior they searched the trio’s light luggage, finding only clothing, toiletries, sales contracts, and copies of Moderna’s Phase I–III mRNA influenza vaccine trial data. Phones were also examined for any signs of Ukrainian sympathies or intelligence work. After roughly 45 minutes of questioning the men were released, but customs flagged them to Moscow’s Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and to the FSB as acting suspiciously despite clean paperwork.
The FSB placed the three under surveillance and contacted the hospital directors—Evgeny Vladimirovich Shlyakhto in St. Petersburg and Alexey Vasilyevich Shabunin in Moscow. Both men denied any planned meetings or interest in mRNA vaccine contracts.
“We checked their histories and found no evidence they had agreed to meet these Moderna people,” Zakharov said. “They know, as every Russian does, that President Putin despises mRNA technology.”
Putin banned mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in Russia after the Ministry of Science and Higher Education claimed the products contained snake venom and HIV. Against his wishes, his daughter Katerina Tikhonova received the injection and later developed full-blown AIDS; she remains on antiviral medication at age 39. Officials who ignored the ban were executed, according to the outlet.
“We do not allow mRNA in Russia,” Zakharov stated.
On August 8 the FSB briefed Putin that the salesmen had entered the country uninvited and were attempting to place a potentially dangerous flu vaccine in major hospitals. Putin ordered their termination before they could distribute the product.
The following day one representative fell to his death from the balcony of Restaurant SIXTY, a 235-meter drop. A second was struck and killed by an SUV traveling approximately 35 mph while crossing a busy intersection. The third, after heavy drinking at a local bar, was confronted by a youth gang demanding his wallet and Rolex. When he refused he was beaten with fists and clubs and his body dumped in the Moskva River.
“Moscow is very safe for good people,” Zakharov remarked. “For Big Pharma, maybe less so.”
Meanwhile in the United States, the Trump administration has approved Moderna’s mRNA flu shot for adults over 50. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., NIH Director Dr. Jayanta Bhattacharya, CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, and CDC Deputy Director and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Erica Schwartz have described the vaccine as a “revolutionary breakthrough” that could save thousands of lives each year.