Frequently asked questions about the closure of ICRC’s office in Azerbaijan

Following a decision of the authorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the ICRC will end its physical presence in the country in September 2025. The ICRC remains committed to persons protected under international humanitarian law, and dialogue is ongoing with the Azerbaijani authorities on the future of our work. Our involvement and physical presence in a country is always subject to the agreement of the authorities. To respect our ongoing confidential, bilateral dialogue with the authorities we will not comment on the details of these discussions. 

For over 30 years, the ICRC has been part of the country’s humanitarian landscape, addressing the evolving needs of people affected by conflict while prioritizing human dignity and long-term resilience.

Guided by its commitment to humanitarian principles including humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, and rooted in its unique mandate established in the Geneva Conventions, the ICRC has worked in Azerbaijan to address the needs of those affected by the conflict, including during periods of escalations. Its humanitarian action has always been anchored on a common understanding of needs and on relationships built directly with affected communities, authorities and local partners. 

As the organization concludes its work in Azerbaijan, the relationships, systems and shared experiences forged throughout these years will continue to shape our engagement with the authorities and Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society in the future.

For more information about our activities since 1992, please see this photo gallery  and our facts and figures.

We know that for families who rely on the ICRC to share news of their loved one in detention, the closure of our office in the country will raise uncertainty and concern. The authorities have taken over this task and will continue to facilitate the communication between people detained and their relatives. The ICRC remains committed to persons protected under international humanitarian law. Dialogue is ongoing with the Azerbaijani authorities according to our respective mandate and obligations under the Geneva Conventions.

All other remaining activities in Azerbaijan, such as support to families of missing persons, have been handed over to the national authorities. The State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages, and Missing Persons of the Republic of Azerbaijan will continue the activities of search and identification of human remains. 

We support collaboration between the State Commissions of Azerbaijan and Armenia and hope their joint efforts will bring long awaited answers to the families of the missing. We stand ready to support their dialogue and action in our capacity as a neutral intermediary should there be a request on both sides.

The activities we conducted in Azerbaijan will all be discontinued and our office will be closed. All our former activities in Azerbaijan, such as support to families of missing persons have been handed over to the national authorities. 

If you have additional questions, visit the Contact Us page on the ICRC website and write to us with your request. 

We worked in close collaboration with the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages, and Missing Persons of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Information collected about the missing was handed over to the Commission with the consent of the families. The Commission will continue its work on clarification of the fate of missing people to give answers to the families, and can be contacted for further information.

For cases of missing relatives linked to conflicts outside of Azerbaijan, please contact the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society. 

As a neutral, humanitarian organization we stand ready to fulfil our mandate. Our involvement and physical presence in a country is always subject to the agreement of the authorities. 

We visited all conflict-related detainees notified to us by the Azerbaijani authorities. The ICRC remains committed to persons protected under international humanitarian law, and dialogue is ongoing with the Azerbaijani authorities on the future of our work. Our ability to visit persons detained in any country is always subject to the agreement of the national authorities.  

We are not in a position to comment on behalf of the Azerbaijani authorities on their decision. 

Our work in Armenia regarding missing persons and their families will continue. Currently, we are providing support through our accompaniment program to the families whose loved ones have been unaccounted for in relation to escalations between 2020 and 2023. We support the public authorities, notably the working group of the Interagency Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons in Armenia, and the forensic services through information exchange and strengthening of their professional capacity.

We support collaboration between the State Commissions of Azerbaijan and Armenia and hope their joint efforts will bring long awaited answers to the families of the missing. We stand ready to support their dialogue and action in our capacity as a neutral intermediary should there be a request on both sides.

The ICRC in Armenia will continue interacting with the relatives of the detained and keep its doors open for them, whenever they want to visit or talk. We are continuing to engage with the Azerbaijani authorities regarding the future of our work in relation to conflict-related detainees. As and when we have updates, we will share them with the families.

The ICRC and Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society are both members of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The ICRC is committed to continuing its working relationship founded over many years of joint dedication and humanitarian action with the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society.