International Red Cross Demands To Dismiss Lukashist Shautsou
- 4.10.2023, 15:28
Otherwise, funding will be suspended.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) investigation found that the current Belarus Red Cross Secretary General breached Red Cross Red Crescent Fundamental Principles, misused the emblem, and breached the IFRC integrity policy. This is said in the statement following the results of the investigation performed by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies:
“Although there was a lack of access to Luhansk and Donetsk, the investigation still found that the movement of children from these territories to Belarus was led by another organization, and not by the Belarus Red Cross, nor funded by the IFRC. The investigation found that the Belarus Red Cross’ involvement in activities with children is focused inside Belarus, supporting people displaced by conflict,” the statement reads.
The investigation showed that Shautsou misused the emblem, and breached the IFRC integrity policy.
The Governing Board of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies called on the Belarus Red Cross to dismiss Mr Dzmitry Shautsou, the current Secretary General, by 30 November 2023.
If the Belarus Red Cross does not take the necessary actions to remove the current Secretary General, its membership rights will be suspended automatically on 30 November 2023. At that point, any new funding will be suspended until the removal of the current Belarus Red Cross Secretary General.
“Neutrality is critical in every context, even more so during an international armed conflict: the IFRC cannot accept any politicization or manipulation of its humanitarian activities. Every National Red Cross Red Crescent Society needs to follow the Fundamental Principles and be far from every political action. This makes the difference between life and death for many,” the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies clarified.
Herein, the IFRC praised the work of Belarus Red Cross volunteers.
The scandal around Shautsou
In July, the Belarus Red Cross Secretary General Dzmitry Shautsou visited the Donbas and was caught on camera wearing a uniform with a Z patch, which is a Russian military symbol. Meanwhile, the Red Cross charter prohibits giving preference to any side in military operations.
On his second visit to the Donbas, Shautsou (already wearing a T-shirt and cap with Red Cross logos) distributed humanitarian aid and confirmed to the camera of the Belarus 1 propagandist that the Belarusian Red Cross was taking an “active part” in the transportation of Ukrainian children to our country — allegedly for recovery.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) became interested in this case. They condemned Shautsou’s trip to the occupied Ukrainian regions. The organization considered that the circumstances of the visit compromised its fundamental principles. The Federation contacted the Belarusian Red Cross to express “serious concerns and prevent any similar activity in the future” and also asked the IFRC-KP Compliance and Mediation Committee to investigate the case.
The IFRC also recommended Dzmitry Shautsou to retire, and asked him to do this before October 3. But in early September, an extraordinary meeting of the 26th Congress of the Belarusian Red Cross took place in Minsk, at which Shautsou was unanimously re-elected to the position of Secretary General, despite the recommendations of the IFRC.