FACT CHECK: Was The World Health Organization Expelled From Russia?

A post shared on Facebook claims Russia expelled the World Health Organization (WHO) from its country and closed its offices in Moscow.

Verdict: False

There is no evidence Russia expelled the WHO. A spokesperson for the WHO Europe denied the cliam.

Fact Check:

Members of the WHO’s European region have pressured the organization to consider relocating a key WHO office out of Moscow in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to ABC News and Politico.

Now, an image shared on Facebook claims it is Russia that has expelled the WHO. The image includes a photo of WHO Director Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus along with text that reads, “#Russia expels the World Health Organization and closes its offices in Moscow.”

“You know if more countries did this there would be less fear and maybe more trust in government,” reads the post’s caption. (RELATED: Did The WHO Recommend Halting Clothing Shipments Due To Monkeypox?)

This claim is false. There are no credible news reports about Russia taking any such action against the organization. There are also no announcements or press releases on the WHO’s website to corroborate the alleged claim. The WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases still appears to be operating in Moscow.

“The claims are false,” said a WHO Europe spokesperson in an email to Check Your Fact. “The WHO continues to operate in the Russian Federation, both through our country office and our Office for Noncommunicable Diseases.”

Check Your Fact has also reached out to the Russian Embassy for comment and will update this piece accordingly if one is received.

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