Azerbaijan plans to shut down ICRC representation

The Azerbaijani authorities intend to shut down the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) representation in the country, local news agencies reported. 

The ICRC said that the Azeri government has communicated its intention, according to APA news agency. 

“We have been made aware of the Azerbaijani government’s intentions for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to close our delegation in Azerbaijan," Aurélie Lachant, a public relations specialist for the ICRC told the Azerbaijani APA news agency. 

“We are currently in contact with authorities and those conversations are part of our confidential and bilateral dialogue,” she added.

According to the Azerbaijani APA news agency, the Azerbaijani government considers the current activities of the local representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) unnecessary and sees no further reason for its operation.

The agency recalls past issues between Azerbaijan and the ICRC, noting that in early 2020, the Committee opened an office in Stepanakert without notifying Azerbaijan and did not close it despite warnings from the Azerbaijani side.

Additionally, Azerbaijani authorities claim to have information suggesting that the ICRC office, under the guise of a humanitarian mission, was allegedly involved in smuggling. The Border Guard Service reportedly discovered cases of illegal transportation of various types of smuggled goods in vehicles belonging to the ICRC.

The APA agency also reports that another claim involves alleged “spying on behalf of Armenia” by ICRC employees.

Furthermore, Baku has proposed closing four UN offices: the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

However, the Azerbaijani government emphasized that this does not mean the end of its cooperation with international organizations.