ICRC Convincing Azerbaijanis Not to Conduct Medical Exams in Front of Cameras at Checkpoint, Says Artsakh Minister

Due to prolonged difficulties in transferring patients to Armenia even through the Red Cross office in Stepanakert, over 200 patients are currently waiting to be transferred to Armenia. This was stated by the Minister of State of Artsakh, Gurgen Nersisyan, in an interview with Radio Liberty.

"For a long time, absolutely no medication has been delivered to Artsakh. In the children's hospital, we have 24 children receiving inpatient care, of which 7 are in the neonatal and recovery department. Today (referring to July 23), for the first time, 13 patients were able to be transferred to Armenia through the Red Cross, along with their escorts. We somehow managed to convince the Azerbaijanis to allow their passage. As I have already mentioned, the Azerbaijanis have brought additional doctors to the checkpoint, and they are subjecting our patients who need to be transferred to Armenia for proper medical assistance to medical examinations. Today, we barely convinced them not to conduct those medical examinations in front of cameras. You can imagine, our patients, who are in inhumane conditions, some in serious condition, are being transferred to Armenia by the Red Cross seated, then they are taken down, and the Azerbaijanis say, 'We need to conduct a medical examination on them', even if that examination may require undressing the person. The Red Cross has managed to persuade them that this process should not take place in front of cameras," said the Minister of State of Artsakh.

It is worth noting that Artsakh has been under blockade for already 225 days.