Its European office World Health Organization announced on Monday that it will close a specialized WHO branch in Moscow and move its operations to Denmark.

This decision follows calls as early as April 2022, shortly after the February 24 invasion of Ukraine, to close this structure in the Russian capital.

Today’s online meeting, during which the measure was approved, was called after a group of 30 states requested an emergency meeting last month.

In their letter, the states highlighted the “immediate and long-term health implications in Ukraine and beyond” of the Russian military offensive, which “continue to be a matter of utmost importance”.

The WHO European region includes 53 countries, several of which are located in central Asia.

Member states overwhelmingly approved the decision to close the specific “non-communicable disease prevention and control office” in Moscow and transfer its functions to the regional office in Denmark “at the latest” on January 1, 2024

The measure does not concern the opposite the WHO office for Russia.