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.