The Russian Red Cross is coming under scrutiny following an investigation by multiple media outlets that alleged the the humanitarian group, which is suppose to be neutral and divorced from politics, is being used as a Kremlin propaganda tool.
The joint investigation by Germany's Der Spiegel magazine, Austria's Standard newspaper and the Swiss daily Tages-Anzeiger, among several other news organizations, was based on Russian secret documents that were leaked to the Estonia media outlet Delfi.
Der Spiegel wrote they show that the Russian Red Cross is "part of a comprehensive propaganda strategy aimed at securing the power and influence of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and his followers."
Moscow is said to be planning to set up branches of the Russian Red Cross in occupied Ukrainian territories in order to replace the humanitarian work of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) there.
The head of the Russian Red Cross was also reported to be active in organizations that support the war against Ukraine and have denigrated Ukrainians as neo-Nazis.
The ICRC is part of the umbrella network of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), just like the national branches.
While the national branches are primarily active in humanitarian and disaster relief, the ICRC monitors compliance with the Geneva Conventions in addition to its own aid operations. The ICRC coordinates the exchange of prisoners of war, for example.
The IFRC said it would investigate the allegations that surfaced in the media outlets.
"We recognize that today's reports could raise concerns and questions that could have consequences for trust and confidence in the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement," a spokesperson for the Federation said on Monday.
The IFRC stated that all 191 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies are expected to adhere to the principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence.
The International Committee of the Red Cross is often criticized for its strict neutrality. For instance, Ukraine accuses the ICRC of not doing enough for Ukrainian prisoners of war.
In Israel, it is accused of not doing enough to help the hostages abducted after the massacres of October 7.
The ICRC says it needs to have fruitful relationships with all actors in a conflict in order to carry out its mission.
The ICRC has been active in the occupied Ukrainian territories of Donetsk and Luhansk since 2014. It said it has no knowledge of Russia's plans to replace its work there.
The Federation can suspend the Russian Red Cross.
This is how it dealt with the chapter in Belarus in 2023, afters its leader travelled to Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine with the Russian war symbol "Z" on his clothing.
The branch in Peru has also been suspended since 2022. According to the Federation's spokesperson, the issue there is abuse of power by the president.