Red Cross closes office in Azerbaijan

As of September 3, the International Committee of the Red Cross in Azerbaijan will cease operations by decision of the country's authorities.

As "Caucasian Knot" wrote, in March, the Azerbaijani authorities notified the International Committee of the Red Cross of their intention to close the organization's office in the country. 

By decision of the Azerbaijani government, on September 3, 2025, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will close its delegation in the country, according to a statement published on the ICRC website.

The ICRC will continue to work with the Azerbaijani authorities to provide assistance to people protected by international humanitarian law, in accordance with our mandate and Azerbaijan's obligations under the Geneva Conventions. "We intend to continue the dialogue on all issues related to humanitarian diplomacy of international humanitarian law," the statement said.

The press release specifically states that the ICRC assisted the authorities in clarifying the fate of people missing in connection with the conflict. "We visited people detained in connection with the conflict to monitor their conditions of detention and their treatment, and helped them maintain contact with their families," the organization said in a statement.

"We are currently in dialogue with the Azerbaijani authorities regarding the future of our activities in the interests of people protected by international humanitarian law," RIA Novosti quoted ICRC representative Achille Depre as saying today.

Azerbaijan's decision to suspend the activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the country will create "big problems for Armenian prisoners," lawyer Siranush Sahakyan said earlier.

Azerbaijan is currently on trial for 15 former Karabakh officials, including former presidents Arayik Harutyunyan, Arutyunyan, and Azerbaijan's decision to suspend the activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the country will create "big problems for Armenian prisoners," Armenian lawyer Siranush Sahakyan said earlier.

There are 15 former Karabakh officials on trial in Azerbaijan, including former presidents Arayik Harutyunyan, Araik Harutyunyan, and ... href="https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/118738">Bako Sahakyan and Arkady Ghukasyan, as well as former speaker of parliament David Ishkhanyan and former state minister of Nagorno-Karabakh Ruben Vardanyan, the latter's case is being heard separately. "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a report "Vardanyan and 15 Karabakh leaders: the main thing about the courts in Baku".

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