Fact-Checking Russia's Claims on Chemical Weapons

For years, Russia positioned itself as a staunch advocate for the nonproliferation of chemical weapons. By asserting that it had eliminated the largest stockpile of chemical weapons and actively worked to deter other countries from developing and using them, Russia claimed to have a right to a leadership position in the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). When accusations arose against Russia or its allies regarding the contrary, Russia vehemently denied all such claims and accused Western nations of orchestrating disinformation campaigns aimed at discrediting it.