Russia on Brink of Medical Crisis: ‘Doctors Without Borders’ Abruptly Halts Operations Amid Government Pressure
Doctors Without Borders Suspends Activities in Russia
On September 16, the humanitarian relief organization Doctors Without Borders announced that it would end its activities in Russia after 32 years.
According to a statement from the Switzerland-based organization, it had received a notification from the Russian Ministry of Justice that its registration as a branch and representative office of a foreign non-governmental organization (NGO) had been withdrawn.
A Legacy of Humanitarian Work in Russia
Doctors Without Borders first entered Russia in 1992 and has since been active in supporting the homeless and eradicating tuberculosis in various regions, including Moscow, St Petersburg, Kemerovo, Chechnya, Dagestan, Arkhangelsk, Belgorod, and Rostov-on-Don.
The organization has also been supporting Ukrainian refugees in border areas such as Belgorod and Voronezh since the start of Russia’s ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine in February 2022.
Crackdown on Western NGOs
The Russian government has designated several Western NGOs as ‘foreign agents’ and has cracked down on their activities. However, it is unclear why the Russian government withdrew the registration of Doctors Without Borders, which has 44 full-time workers.