You're reading: Ukrainian Red Cross: Russian Red Cross breaks international law occupying organization’s office in Crimea

 The Red Cross Society of Ukraine said that the operation of Russian Red Cross in Crimea breaks statute of Red Cross and Red Crescent international movements, a charter of Ukrainian Red Cross and agreement on cooperation between Ukrainian and Russian Red Cross organizations. "Russian Red Cross violating a neutrality principle supports Russia in political and ideological contradiction, and in this way not just endangers trust to it, but undermines authority of the international Red Cross [movement]," President of the Ukrainian Red Cross Ivan Usychenko said at a press conference in Kyiv on April 18.

 He said that Russian Red Cross has illegally seized Ukrainian property in Crimea.

According to Usychenko, the leadership of the Russian Red Cross held a meeting on March 28, where it decided to create Russian branches of the Red Cross on the annexed territories of Crimea, Simferopol, and Sevastopol.

“Due to this situation, we have decided to send a letter to the Russian Red Cross about the illegal actions, the creation of [Russian] Red Cross branches in Crimea and the seizure of property that belonged to the [Ukrainian] Society, the Red Cross of Crimea, and the municipal organization of the Red Cross of Sevastopol,” Usychenko said.

He said the property has not been sealed off, but the inaugural conference was held on the basis of the Crimean organization and the property has remained under the Russian Red Cross.

Usychenko added that the value of the seized property is around $5 million, including the 500 sq. m property in Simferopol, six properties in Crimean district offices that are owned by the Red Cross Society of Ukraine, as well as office equipment, food parcels and emergency reserves.

Usychenko noted that, despite the seizure of properties, staff members who worked for the Ukrainian Red Cross are continuing to work, although now under Russian direction.

In line with the situation, the organization had to curtail the programs meant to combat tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and those related to substitution therapy.