ICRC: 15 patients, family members evacuated via Lachin-Khankendi road on May 26

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) evacuated people in need of medical care along the Lachin-Khankendi road to Armenia on May 26.

The statement came from Ilaha Huseynova, the head of the Public Relations Department of the ICRC Representative Office in Azerbaijan, APA reports.

She stated that 15 patients and their family members were evacuated on May 26 with the help of the Red Cross.

In his address to an expanded meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council held in Moscow on May 25, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev clearly described the current situation in the Lachin-Kahnkendi road.

“On the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which you recognise, a border checkpoint has been set up in accordance with all international standards. This border checkpoint is located 20 metres from the post of the Russian peacekeeping contingent. And today, through this border checkpoint, residents of Azerbaijan of Armenian nationality, who live in Karabakh, can freely move towards Armenia. There are no obstacles, including those for patients who are transported by the Red Cross, as well as ambulances from the city of Khankendi. Any unbiased person, of course, should be able to see this. I think that there is no need to try to use the platform for unfounded accusations,” he said.

Aliyev made the remarks in response to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s accusations alleging that Azerbaijan “blocked” the road.