Key Takeaways:
• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has declared the closure of its operations in Russia.
• Russia’s Ministry of Justice ordered the withdrawal of MSF’s affiliate office from the register of foreign NGOs.
• The humanitarian organization has worked in Russia for 32 years, implementing various programs across the country.
• This move comes after Veon Ltd. also announced its withdrawal from Russia following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Rise and Fall of MSF’s operations in Russia
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), a renowned medical humanitarian organization declared on Monday that it would suspend all its activities in Russia. The organization made the announcement through a press release published on its official website, a report by Ukrinform.
The withdrawal marks an end to MSF’s dedicated work that spanned over three decades in Russia. In a statement, MSF explained, “MSF had to close our operations in the country, 32 years after starting work in Russia.”
Regulatory Roadblocks
According to MSF, their operations came to a halt following a letter received from the Ministry of Justice of Russia in August. The ministry had decided to withdraw the affiliate office of the non-profit association ‘Médecins Sans Frontières’ (Netherlands) in Russia from the register of affiliate and representative offices of foreign NGOs. The rigid decision left MSF with no option but to halt its services in Russia.
MSF’s Humanitarian Endeavors in Russia
Since 1992, MSF has been diligently working across Russia, implementing an array of programs in many cities, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Belgorod, Rostov-on-Don, Chechnya, Dagestan, Kemerovo, Arkhangelsk, and Ivanovo regions.
MSF’s Ongoing Humanitarian Efforts Worldwide
Despite the setback in Russia, MSF continues to work around the globe providing humanitarian assistance and emergency medical care. It caters to populations in over seventy countries affected by various calamities such as armed conflicts, famines, epidemics, forced migration, and natural disasters. Providing free medical care ensures that those affected by crises receive the necessary care even in the most challenging conditions.
Previous Withdrawals from Russia
This isn’t the first time an institution has pulled out of Russia. Telecommunications company, Veon Ltd., withdrew its operations from Russia after the country’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, as reported by Ukrinform on October 9, 2023.
Conclusion: The Impact of the Closure
The closure of MSF’s operations will undoubtedly create a void in the provision of medical care in the various regions of Russia where the organization was active. As MSF had implemented numerous programs across the country, the impact will be felt most by the populations that relied on their free medical services.
The actions by both Veon Ltd. and now MSF reflect an uncertain climate for foreign organizations in Russia, especially in the wake of increasing global tensions.
The closure of MSF’s operations emphasizes the organization’s commitment to respect the laws in its host nations. Yet, it also casts a shadow on the international humanitarian efforts in regions where their services are desperately needed.
While the full implications of MSF’s withdrawal remain to be seen, the decision is undoubtedly a significant development that emphasizes the geopolitical shifts and their impact on humanitarian operations.