Russia was one of the first countries to launch its own vaccine against Covid-19.
Britain wants evidence that the vaccine is based on espionage.
Munich - In the fight against the corona pandemic, vaccines have so far been the most effective means.
The preparations for protection against Covid-19 are correspondingly in demand.
Now there are new allegations against Russia - the country got its vaccine Sputnik V using unfair methods, according to a British media report.
The tabloid
Sun
writes that there is verified information that Russian spies stole the formula for the Astrazeneca vaccine to create the Sputnik-V vaccine.
The ministers had been informed of this.
Security services had evidence that the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company had stolen important data, including the vaccination plan.
Vaccine espionage from Russia?
Hackers are said to have attacked facilities in several countries
Accusations against Vladimir Putin had already been raised last summer.
Intelligence agents emphasized that they were "more than 95 percent" sure that hackers on behalf of the Kremlin had attacked facilities involved in vaccine development in Great Britain, the USA and Canada.
At the time, the late British Security Secretary James Brokenshire declared: “We are very careful when we say such things before the context is established.
We believe that is the case here. ”According to the report, Tory MP Bob Seely, who is considered an expert on Russia, had warned against espionage from Russia and China.
Video: Astrazeneca gives hope for corona cures
Vaccine espionage from Russia?
Sputnik V is very similar to Astrazeneca and uses the same tactics
In any case, there are similarities between the preparations from Astrazeneca and their Russian counterpart Sputnik V. Both use a weakened adenovirus to stimulate the immune system.
"We live in a world in which states aim to operate industrial and economic espionage," said Interior Minister Damian Hinds on Tuesday.
"There are always states that want to get at sensitive information, sometimes also state secrets."
Vaccine espionage from Russia?
PR company speaks of fake news and lies
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is currently struggling with the undesirable consequences of Brexit, initially made no comment on the subject.
In contrast, a London PR firm spoke up.
Hudson Sadler said on behalf of an investment fund set up by Putin's government: "The British media reports that Sputnik V is allegedly based on research into the Astrazeneca vaccine are further fake news and a lie based on anonymous sources."
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