Limits of patience need control
RPC and ICRC engaged in smuggling

KARABAKH  02 February 2023 - 14:30

According to operational data obtained by Caliber.Az, in recent days, smuggling attempts by means of RPC and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) vehicles have been observed on the territories of the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan located in the zone of temporary responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping contingent.

This information is also confirmed by sources from the Karabakh Armenian community. For example, on January 29, lawyer Roman Yeritsyan reported that Russian peacekeepers took "a significant amount of money" from Karabakh entrepreneurs for transporting goods worth 35 million drams, in addition to stealing part of the cargo. "Then the high officials of the peacekeeping contingent started to extort a large amount of money (3 million drams) from the businessmen in return for solving the problem, however, having been refused, they informed them that a part of the property was allegedly destroyed and another part fell into disrepair," Roman Yeritsyan wrote.

So, RPC and ICRC, are a kind of syndicate of acronyms. However, if the actions of the RPC, as a structure, whether we like it or not, representing the Russian state interests, cause little surprise, the opaque activities of the ICRC become a revelation. However, let us not be so naïve on this issue too. In the past, at least with respect to Azerbaijan, the ICRC did not adhere to the high humanitarian standards set out in its charter. In the thirty years, it has been operating in Azerbaijan the Red Cross has managed to discredit itself through its criminally negligent attitude towards our prisoners of war from the First Karabakh War, and through its biased and almost hostile activities during the 44-day war.

And now it is engaged in smuggling. For example, there are reports that Red Cross vehicles have tried to smuggle people and contraband goods for a financial reward. It is worth recalling that today the ICRC does not even want to hear about the delivery of humanitarian goods to the RPC's area of temporary responsibility in Karabakh via Terter or Barda, insisting that everything should come exclusively from Armenian territory. It is now clear that apart from the political stance of top management, the vested interests of ordinary red crusaders also play a role here.

In any case, the solution to the problem cannot be delayed. Azerbaijan has shown enough patience and has drawn a red line at a respectable distance. However, this does not seem to have been appreciated. Now it seems logical and just, that it is high time for our state to put checkpoints on the Lachin road, including customs control. This measure, logical in itself, will forever discourage both geopolitical and gastronomic appetites of the whole hierarchy of foreign structures, which are trying to turn the Armenian-populated part of Karabakh into a grey zone beyond Baku's control. The establishment of checkpoints on the border is the right of a sovereign state to control the movement of people and goods on its territory. Furthermore, the question arises: if today you are smuggling the small stuff of Karabakh Armenians for a modest fee, who can guarantee that tomorrow you will not try to smuggle more dangerous goods into our territory for hard currency? The answer is obvious. Such a guarantee can only be given by us. It is sad to say that we have to protect our security from structures that are, by definition, obliged to cooperate with our country on humanitarian issues.

Caliber.Az