State commission: Armenia’s military aggression left nearly 4,000 Azerbaijanis missing

Approximately 4,000 Azerbaijani citizens remain missing due to Armenia’s military aggression, according to a statement made on March 10 at a presentation ceremony organized by Azerbaijan's State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages, and Missing Persons. 

The event marked the release of the "Assessment Report on the Search for Missing Persons in the Republic of Azerbaijan," prepared by the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP), Caliber.Az reports, citing the State Commission's press service.

Members of the State Commission, staff of its working group, senior representatives of the International Commission, members of parliament, heads of relevant state institutions, as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations and the media attended the event.

During the event, it was highlighted that the issue of missing persons is under the direct supervision of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, who demonstrates particular sensitivity to this problem. Thanks to his important directives, the search process has been accelerated, and the necessary measures have been carried out intensively.

Over the past period, the State Commission has taken relevant steps to determine the fate of missing persons. The process of collecting biological samples from families continued, DNA profiles were extracted, and since February 2021, excavations have been conducted in the liberated territories, resulting in the discovery of 23 mass graves. The remains of missing Azerbaijani citizens were exhumed from these sites.

It was particularly emphasized that Armenia refuses to cooperate with Azerbaijan on clarifying the fate of missing persons and avoids providing information about the locations of mass graves under various pretexts.

During the conflict, Armenia systematically violated international law norms that protect people from enforced disappearance. These violations included the taking of civilians as hostages, inhumane treatment and torture of prisoners of war, imprisonment without judicial verdicts, extrajudicial executions, and mass burials without observing burial traditions. Furthermore, burial sites were deliberately concealed or destroyed. Given these grave crimes, it is expected that the number of such mass graves will continue to grow.

Following this, the Director-General of the International Commission on Missing Persons, Kathryne Bomberger, delivered a speech.

Subsequently, the report prepared by the International Commission based on its assessment mission conducted in Azerbaijan in 2023 was presented.

The State Commission, striving to utilize all available resources to end the 30-year wait of the families of missing persons, intends to strengthen cooperation with the International Commission. The latter has significant expertise in locating illegal burial sites worldwide, identifying human remains, determining the fate of missing persons, and conducting forensic examinations. The Commission possesses professional experts, advanced technical capabilities, and modern working methods in this field.

In conclusion, deep confidence was expressed that cooperation with the International Commission will yield effective results in clarifying the fate of missing Azerbaijani citizens.

By Khagan Isayev