False rumours about the new coronavirus circulating in Russia are being directed from abroad, President Vladimir Putin claimed Wednesday at a government meeting.
He told ministers the country's FSB security service had reported to him that false information was being planted to create panic, while in reality the situation is not critical.
"As for these provocative fake stories, the FSB reports they're mainly organised from abroad... The aim of such fake stories is clear: to spread panic among the public."
He said Russia had to fight this by releasing "timely, comprehensive and trustworthy information."