The Azerbaijani government has ordered the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to close its representation in the country.
The closure of the ICRC’s representation in Azerbaijan has been reported by the Head of the Public Relations Department of the ICRC’s Azerbaijan Representation, Ilaha Huseynova. “We have been informed of the Azerbaijani government’s plans to close the ICRC delegation in Azerbaijan. We are in ongoing communication with the authorities, and these discussions are part of our private, bilateral dialogue,” said the ICRC spokesperson.
Earlier, on March 1, “Caliber.az” reported that the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) were advised to reconsider the structure of their cooperation in Baku.
These organizations were told that they must leave Azerbaijan, and this decision was communicated to them by the relevant authorities. No official comments have been made by Azerbaijani authorities regarding these claims.
In a statement issued by the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 3, it was mentioned that Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with the UN Resident Coordinator for Europe and Central Asia, Qui-Yeop Son, who was on a visit to Azerbaijan. During the meeting, it was stated that Baku is reviewing its cooperation with the UN in accordance with the current circumstances of the time.
“In this regard, it was noted that future partnerships with some UN agencies will continue through a project-based cooperation mechanism that aligns with national priorities. Azerbaijan has now transformed from a country receiving aid to one that contributes to the global agenda,” the ministry statement noted. So far, the response of the relevant UN bodies to this statement remains unclear.
Azerbaijan joined the United Nations on March 2, 1992. The International Committee of the Red Cross has been operating in Baku since March 3, 1992.
