Armenian Red Cross Society calls on Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society not to get involved in political processes

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 gets involved in political processes,
raising the position of its government, that is, to keep the Lachin Corridor
closed, the Armenian Red Cross Society states.

“The drawing in of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society in
the political processes contradicts the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross
and Red Crescent International Movement; the latter does not have mandate to
make political statements and serve the political agenda. 

This is a rude breach and non-compliance to the Movement
principles and values as well as to the humanitarian agenda.

Presently, Azerbaijan also using the Azerbaijan Red Crescent
Society is trying to obstruct the activity of the ICRC as the only humanitarian
international organization operating in Nagorno-Karabakh.  

Clear evidence of that was the abduction of Vagif
Khachatryan, who was kidnapped near the checkpoint on his way to be transferred
to Armenia for surgery under ICRC escort. He was kidnapped while under the
protection of International Humanitarian Law.

Since July 26, 2023, a convoy carrying humanitarian aid sent
by Armenia is stranded on Hakari Bridge․ The Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society
could use its “humanitarian power” to convince the side which blocked the
Lachin corridor and caused the humanitarian catastrophe to open it respecting
humanitarian principles.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, with its July
25, 2023 statement, attracted the attention of the international community
towards the concerning humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, which was
also presented during the Security Council by the representative of OCHA.

Hence, it is an urgent necessity to ensure the immediate
implementation of the 22 February and 6 July 2023 decisions of the UN
International Court of Justice.

We are calling upon all the components of the International
Red Cross Movement: International Committee of the Red Cross, International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and Azerbaijan Red Crescent
Society to steadily follow and adhere to the Movement principles, to fulfill
their complementary roles within their mandates, in favor of effective
humanitarian mission implementation,” reads the statement.