Yerevan — August 28, 2025
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will close its office in Baku on September 3, according to Daphne Mare, head of the ICRC delegation in Armenia, as reported by Armenian media.
Mare emphasized that while the office will shut down, cooperation with the Azerbaijani government will continue.
“The ICRC will close its office in Baku on September 3. However, work with the Azerbaijani authorities will go on. Communication with the government is not being cut off, and discussions on this are continuing,” she said.
One of the key issues, Mare noted, is the fate of missing persons from past conflicts. The Red Cross, she said, intends to remain engaged in this process as a neutral actor and mediator. She added that the ICRC has actively worked with Azerbaijan for years, transmitting information about missing persons.
The peace treaty now under discussion between Armenia and Azerbaijan explicitly includes provisions for international involvement in clarifying the fate of the missing.
“It is in this context that the Red Cross expects its efforts to remain in demand,” Mare added.
Background
The ICRC has long played a sensitive role in the South Caucasus, especially during the Karabakh conflicts. It facilitated prisoner exchanges, supported humanitarian aid deliveries, and became a central mediator during the Lachin corridor crisis (2022–2023), when access to Karabakh was blocked. While its Baku office is closing, observers note that the Red Cross continues to position itself as an indispensable partner in humanitarian issues tied to the peace process.
