Azerbaijan deliberately hinders ICRC activities in Artsakh -  Ombudsman

ArmInfo. Azerbaijan deliberately hinders the activities of the International Committee of the Red  Cross in Artsakh. This is stated in the statement of the Human Rights Defender of Artsakh Gegham Stepanyan.

The statement of the Human Rights Defender of Artsakh reads, in  particular: "Since the installation of the illegal checkpoint on the  Goris-Stepanakert highway near the Hakari Bridge on April 23,  Azerbaijan has been artificially obstructing the normal operation of  the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in  Nagorno-Karabakh, by which the Azerbaijani side not only violates the  provisions of the international humanitarian law, but also the  agreement reached during the blockade on the transfer to Armenia of  the persons in extremely serious health condition. Thus, Azerbaijan  directly ignores the decision of the European Court of Human Rights  (ECHR) of December 21, 2022, obliging it to take all necessary and  sufficient measures to ensure the movement of seriously ill persons  in need of medical treatment in Armenia through the "Lachin  corridor".

During this time, the ICRC transported patients only twice: on April  28 (13 patients) and on April 29 (16 patients). Since April 29, with  the mediation of the ICRC, the transfer of patients to medical  institutions of the Republic of Armenia has completely stopped.  According to the information received by the Human Rights Defender's  Office, the Azerbaijani side has put forward additional conditions,  demanding to check the ICRC cars transporting patients, as well as  the passports of the ICRC employees and patients, thus, violating the  agreements reached earlier. According to the information received  from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Artsakh, 30 patients  in extremely serious condition are waiting for urgent transfer.

Azerbaijan deliberately prevents the supply of essential medicines to  Artsakh through the ICRC, as a result of which serious problems arise  in medical institutions of Artsakh.

The Azerbaijani side, pursuing the goal of total isolation of  Artsakh, is undertaking deliberate actions, aimed at hindering the  activities of even humanitarian organisations in Artsakh, putting  forward additional artificial demands.  Azerbaijan is not ready to  take a constructive position even on the matters of humanitarian  nature, does not miss the opportunity to intimidate the peaceful  population and deepen their physical and psychological suffering  caused by the blockade, deliberately deepening the humanitarian  crisis.

Azerbaijan's behavior directly contradicts the international law and  the principles of humanism, which should be clearly condemned by  international organisations and the human rights community.

We expect practical intervention by international structures in the  settlement of this urgent humanitarian issue."