The International Committee of the Red Cross did not guarantee the safety of the defenders of Azovstal

"We did not guarantee the safety of prisoners of war once in enemy hands, because it is not in our power to do so," the organization says. — "We made it clear to the parties in advance." According to the ICRC, it is the obligation of parties to the conflict to ensure POWs are protected against acts of violence, intimidation, and public curiosity, as well as against the effects of hostilities, because only the parties to the conflict can definitively ensure the safety of PoWs.

The organization claims that the ICRC contributed to the safe exit of combatants from the Azovstal plant as a neutral intermediary in coordination with the parties to the conflict.

Photo: International Committee of the Red Cross