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The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has resumed its operations in the territory controlled by the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic" (LPR), and hopes to complete all administrative procedures for the resumption of humanitarian operations in another self-ctyled "Donetsk People's Republic" (DPR), Ashot Astabatsyan, head of Public Relations Department at ICRC has told an UNIAN correspondent.
"In Luhansk we have received permission for the temporary resumption of our activities, and we hope that the issue will be finally resolved soon," Astabatsyan said.
He also expressed hope that the ICRC would be able to resume its operations on a regular basis in the self-proclaimed DPR after the completion of all administrative procedures and discussions that are currently underway.
Read alsoRed Cross delivers 275 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Donetsk residentsAt this, Astabatsyan denied allegations that by providing the necessary documents to conduct the organization's authorized activities in the occupied territories, the ICRC thus recognizes the jurisdiction of the self-proclaimed LPR.
"I was not talking of jurisdiction... We have been working in various conflict zones around the world. Administrative procedures and their execution are a part of our work. When such demands are put forward, it is always done in a transparent and open way, and it is very important for us to be able to continue our humanitarian work, because people are in need of this activity," Astabatsyan said.
As earlier reported, de-facto authorities of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics banned operations of international humanitarian agencies, including the ones from the UN, in militant-held areas unless "accreditation" is obtained.