The Working Paper analyses the impact which Russia’s unfounded bioweapons-related allegations against Ukraine and the United States may have on the norms against biological weapons. It focuses on Russia’s use of the compliance procedures of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) in 2022. Drawing on social constructivist research on international norms, the Working Paper concludes that Russia’s activities, while posing serious problems for the efforts to strengthen the BWC, may counterintuitively have contributed to strengthening the norms against biological weapons at the discursive level. In practical terms, and to prevent damage to the norms in the long run, it will be important for BWC states parties to continue to reaffirm the norms’ strength, react firmly to any alleged or actual violations, enhance transparency in biological activities, and strengthen the means to counter disinformation and to increase confidence in compliance with the BWC.

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