Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society violates the principle of neutrality by getting involved in the political process. Armenian Red Cross

Azerbaijan, using the Red Crescent Society, is trying to hinder the activities of the ICRC in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Armenian Red Cross Society issued a statement about this.

"The Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society violates the fundamental principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, first of all the principle of neutrality, and engages in the political process by voicing the position of its government, which is to keep the Lachin Corridor closed (including offering so-called alternative routes through).

Involvement of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent in political processes contradicts the fundamental principles of the international Red Cross movement, the latter has no mandate to make political statements and serve the political agenda.

This is a gross violation and is not consistent with the principles and values of the Movement, as well as the humanitarian agenda.

Currently, Azerbaijan, also using the Red Crescent Society, is trying to obstruct the ICRC as the only humanitarian international organization in Nagorno-Karabakh. The abduction of Vagif Khachatryan at the checkpoint accompanied by the ICRC on the way to be transferred to Armenia for surgery is a vivid proof of this. The latter was abducted while he was under the protection of international humanitarian law.

From July 26, 2023, the humanitarian cargo sent from Armenia is standing near the Hakari bridge. The Azerbaijan Red Crescent could use its "humanitarian potential" to convince the side that closed the Lachin Corridor and caused the humanitarian disaster to open it, respecting humanitarian principles.

The International Committee of the Red Cross drew the international community's attention to the worsening humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh with its July 25 statement, which was also presented to the Security Council by the representative of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Thus, the immediate implementation of the decisions of the UN International Court of Justice of February 22 and July 6, 2023 becomes more than urgent.

We call on the constituents of the International Red Cross Movement, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society, to steadfastly follow and adhere to the principles of the Movement to play a complementary role within their mandates for the effective implementation of the humanitarian mission. ", it is stated in the statement.