IFRC Warns Lukashist Shevtsou
- 20.07.2023, 11:32
The IFRC strongly condemns his trips to Donbas.
The Belarus Red Cross recently got into a scandal after its Secretary General Dzmitry Shevtsou was spotted in Donbas wearing Z-symbols and confirmed that they were helping to kidnap children from the occupied territories of Ukraine. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) reacted, nashaniva.com reports.
The IFRC has learned from the media that the Secretary General of the Belarus Red Cross recently visited Luhansk and Donetsk.
“We were not made aware of the visit, nor were we involved in any of the activities, including with children,” the IFRC writes.
Actions by any of our member national Red Cross or Red Crescent Societies in contradiction with our humanitarian mission, Fundamental Principles and policies are taken extremely seriously by IFRC.
The IFRC has therefore referred this case to the Compliance and Mediation Committee, which, under our constitution, is an independent body investigating and addressing alleged breaches of integrity.
The extraordinary circumstances of this visit, including the use of a symbol associated with one of the parties to the international armed conflict in Ukraine, implicate the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The visit and the activities associated with it were not coordinated with the other components of the Movement, as required by our internal rules and regulations.
These actions risk damaging the trust of our work in supporting communities in need, whoever they are and whichever side of the frontlines they are on. It is essential that all components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement maintain their independence from governments and weapon bearers.”
The International Red Cross says it has contacted the Belarus Red Cross to express concern and stop any such activity in the future.
“It is important to note that the Secretary General of the Belarus Red Cross does not speak on behalf of the IFRC or any other component of the Movement, and his statements do not represent our views.
All National Society members of the IFRC are bound by the Fundamental Principles of the Movement, our internal Regulations and policies including the IFRC Protection, Gender, and Inclusion Policy – in which they commit to ensure safeguarding of children.”