…writes Russian agency for more info on Sputnik V
One day after the Ministry of Health made public a letter from the Director-General of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Alexander Christyakov, confirming the authenticity of the shipment of 305,536 doses of Sputnik-V vaccines to Guyana, Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon contends that there is no such person at the RDIF.
In fact, Harmon, in a statement on Wednesday, said there is no such position at the Russian Direct Investment Fund.
“The letter lists Mr. Christyakov as the General Director of the Russian Direct Investment Fund. However, our research has revealed so far, that the Russian Direct Investment Fund does not have such a position, and Mr. Christyakov’s name is not among the senior team members listed,” the Leader of the Opposition said while noting that the letter raises more questions than answers.
In the letter addressed to the Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, Christyakov outlined the batch number for the vaccines that were shipped in five dispatches. There were 244, 268 of the first dose and 61,268 of the second. The document included the batch number, expiry date of the vaccines, and the quantity of doses. Some vaccines will expire on July 1, August 1, and October 31, 2021.
The official also noted that all supporting documentation inclusive of batch release, certificate of analysis and packing list have been provided along with the shipments.
The Opposition Leader, while making it clear that APNU+AFC’s position on the acquisition of Sputnik V vaccines from Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum remains unchanged, said he requested specific information from the Minister of Health.
“(a) The quantities and batch numbers of the vaccines purchased from Sheikh Al Maktoum and/or Umaar Farooq Zahoor and their partners; (b) Shipping information including transshipment information and the conditions under which the vaccines were stored for shipment; (c) The procurement process utilized including the due diligence done on the supplier,” Harmon recalled.
He said the Health Minister, in response, published a letter dated June 22, 2021 signed by Alexander Chistyakov.
Harmon said on June 22, 2021 he wrote the Gamaleya National Centre of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation in Moscow, and requested critical information.
“As this is a serious matter involving the health and wellness of the Guyanese citizens, over 50 % of whom I represent, I shall be grateful if the Gamaleya National Centre of Epidemiology and Microbiology can provide verification of the aforementioned information, specifically (1) that it could not provide the Sputnik V Vaccines to the Vaccines to the Government of Guyana either directly or via the RDIF; (2) That Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum is a duly authorized distributor of the Sputnik V Vaccine and; (3) That Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum has been supplied with Sputnik V vaccines by the Gamaleya National Centre of Epidemiology and Microbiology,” a section of the Opposition Leader’s letter reads.
Another section reads: “Should you confirm the supply of Sputnik V to Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, I shall be grateful if you can advise of the following: (a) The quantity of Sputnik V vaccines supplied; (b) Date(s) of which Sputnik V vaccines were delivered; (c) Port(s) to which Sputnik V vaccines were delivered; (d) Date(s) of manufacturer of the Sputnik V vaccines supplied; (e) Dates(s) 0f expiry of the Sputnik V vaccines supplied (f) Batch numbers of the Sputnik V vaccines supplied. We await the response from the Gamaleya National Centre of Epidemiology and Microbiology.”
He said the Health Minister has failed to provide information on the vaccines which he claims is in his possession, and which the letter from Chistyakov, confirms is in the possession of the Ministry of Health.
“Our position on the matter of this batch of the Sputnik V vaccines remains unchanged. That is, suspend the administering of this batch of the vaccines to the Guyanese people until the information requested is provided. The letter by Mr. Chistyakov does not satisfy this requirement,” the Opposition Leader said.
