DPR accuses Doctors Without Borders of espionage and smuggling psychotropic substances

The committee for accrediting humanitarian missions of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) said on Sunday it had withdrew accreditation from Doctor Without Borders (MSF) over its involvement in espionage and smuggling psychotropic substances.

“The ministry of state security of the Donetsk People’s Republic exposed a series of suspicious actions performed by this organization, including collecting defence-related information and conducting psychological trainings among people living near the line of engagement that deliberately disoriented the people,” the Donetsk News Agency said on Sunday quoting the commission’s statement.

Apart from that, the MSF has been found to supply psychotropic substances which are outlawed in the DPR.
“Such actions of an international organization are a violation of the law and a threat to state security. Having analyzed this information and being guided by its regulations the committee for accrediting humanitarian missions took a decision to deprive the international organization of its accreditation in the republic,” the document said.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said earlier it had been notified by a humanitarian committee of the Donetsk People’s Republic that its accreditation had been withdrawn and it had been asked to “immediately stop its activities” there.

The MSF, the largest emergency medical assistance organization worldwide, said on its website it has up until now coordinated all its activities with the republic’s authorities and “is willing to continue this collaboration for the sake of the health of thousands of vulnerable .”

Bart Janssens, MSF director of operations, expressed concerns by this move saying it “will deprive thousands of people of lifesaving medical assistance.”

“This decision will have life-threatening consequences for the patients MSF is now leaving behind. We are urging the DPR Humanitarian Committee to reconsider the decision without delay in order for us to resume providing much-needed health care.”

He said the decision must be reviewed “so crucial health care can once more be provided to those in need.”
The organization has been operating in eastern Ukraine since 2011. Since May 2014, it has been providing medical humanitarian aid via mobile clinics and donations to health care facilities on both sides of the conflict.

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