TWO RELEASED CIVILIAN INTERNEES RETURNED UNDER ICRC AUSPICES
Support A1+!Geneva (ICRC) – On 12 December 2007, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), acting as a neutral intermediary, facilitated the transfers of two civilians who had been detained in Baku and in Nagorny Karabakh respectively. The transfer took place in Agdam district of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Prior to their release and transfer, ICRC delegates had visited the detained civilians on several occasions, in order to assess their conditions of detention and treatment. The ICRC had also forwarded family news between the internees and their relatives.
Acting as a neutral intermediary and in accordance with its mandate, the ICRC facilitated the transfer of the released civilians at the request of the respective Commissions for Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons. ICRC delegates had visited the civilians before the operation to ensure that they were returning of their own free will.