No, Putin did not execute 450 COVID-19 criminals

A publication is making rounds on social networks (archived here and here) claiming Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the execution of 450 individuals called "COVID criminals." The post states "450 COVID-19 criminals the Russian Army had captured and imprisoned per Putin's March 2023 edict banning clot shots and vaccine research on Russian soil."

However, a closer look at the publication shows us that this claim is unsubstantiated and originates from a website known for spreading similar fake news and claims with sensational headlines.

In fact

The source of information about the mass execution of health professionals and researchers in Russia, who chose to disregard Putin's ban on COVID-related research and continued their work, is an article on the website Real Raw News. Previously, it has published information under sensational headlines without any corroboration. Among its recent publications is one about "Spetznas Snipe WEF Member in Ukraine" and "Katie Hobbs hanged at GITMO," both debunked by Logically Facts.

Moreover, the Real Raw News' "About Us" page includes a disclaimer that "This website contains humour, parody, and satire." However, the authors add that they "have included this disclaimer for [their] protection, on the advice of legal counsel."

Real Raw News' "About Us" page includes a disclaimer that "This website contains humour, parody, and satire." (Source: Real Raw News, screenshot)

Real Raw News cites its source of information as FSB agent Andrei Zakharov. No military person by that name has provided comments to any other news resource, and the name of FSB agent Andrei Zakharov has not appeared anywhere else except on the website Europe Reloaded. This resource spreads Deep State conspiracy theories and other misinformation, particularly related to COVID-19.

The website has a separate tag, "Andrei Zakharov FSB agent," under which you can find materials supposedly based on his comments. All of them suggest visiting Real Raw News.

The Europe Reloaded website has the tag "Andrei Zakharov FSB agent" for articles linked with Real Raw News. (Source: Europe Reloaded, screenshot)

No reputable resource has published information about Putin executing COVID-19 criminals. Moreover, there are no sources confirming the Russian president banned research related to COVID-19 with subsequent arrests of violators by the Russian army.

Conclusion

The information about Putin executing 450 COVID-19 criminals comes from an unreliable source that has repeatedly spread fake news under similar sensational headlines. No credible news source has published similar information. Accordingly, we have marked this claim as fake.

The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19, including symptoms, prevention, and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organization or your national healthcare authority.