Azerbaijan completes search for mass graves in Kalbajar’s rugged terrain

The search for possible burial sites of missing persons in Kalbajar district has recently been completed, while efforts continue in other liberated territories of Azerbaijan.

Eldar Samadov, deputy head of the Working Group of the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Missing Persons and Hostages, told domestic media that extensive work was carried out in July and August across the hard-to-reach mountainous areas of Kalbajar.

The operations involved specialists from relevant state agencies, with unmanned aerial vehicles also deployed to assist the search.

“In accordance with the plan, this work was completed recently, taking into account weather conditions. Further measures will be carried out in stages,” Samadov added.

Since the end of the Second Karabakh War in 2020, Azerbaijani authorities have uncovered mass graves across multiple formerly occupied areas. Sites include the grounds of the former Shusha prison, Dashalti village, Sarijali village in Aghdam, Edilli in Khojavand, Farrukh in Khojaly, Yukhary Seyidahmadli in Fuzuli, and Bashlibel in Kalbajar. Altogether, the remains of approximately 600 Azerbaijani citizens have been recovered.

These findings form part of a broader investigation into the humanitarian consequences of Armenia’s aggression. Since the conflict, 3,990 Azerbaijani citizens have gone missing, including six during the 44-day war in 2020. Among the missing are 71 children, 284 women, and 316 elderly people.

By Tamilla Hasanova