Missing Azerbaijanis from First Karabakh War discussed at UN

The issue of Azerbaijanis who went missing during the First Karabakh War has been raised at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Nigar Ramazanova, a representative of an organisation that is a member of the National NGO Forum of Azerbaijan, raised the issue during a meeting held on September 28 as part of the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council.

According to Report, she said Armenia was avoiding transparent cooperation and had not provided comprehensive information or coordinates for the locations of mass graves in Azerbaijan’s territories recovered from occupation.

Ramazanova stressed that the fate of thousands of Azerbaijanis who went missing during the First Karabakh War remains an unresolved tragedy.

“The discovery of numerous mass graves in the liberated territories points to the tragic circumstances surrounding their disappearance. Unfortunately, Armenia refuses to engage in transparent cooperation and does not provide comprehensive information or the coordinates of the locations of these mass graves,” she said.

She called on the Human Rights Council to urge Armenia to fulfil its international obligations, provide all necessary mapping materials, and respect the fundamental rights of victims and their families.

“Families of missing persons have the right to know what happened to their loved ones,” Ramazanova said.

Ramazanova also raised the issue of the continuing landmine threat, saying that extensive mine contamination remains a major obstacle to the fundamental right of hundreds of thousands of former internally displaced persons from Azerbaijan to return safely to their homes.

“For decades of occupation, Armenia systematically planted mines in Azerbaijani territories, creating a long-term humanitarian threat that continues to claim the lives of civilians today,” she said.

The UN Human Rights Council’s 63rd regular session is being held in Geneva from September 7 to October 7, 2026.

By Tamilla Hasanova