State Commission reports discovery of 18 mass graves in Karabakh

Excavations in territories recently liberated from Armenian control have uncovered 18 mass graves, from which the remains of 169 individuals have been exhumed, according to the State Commission for Prisoners of War, Hostages, and Missing Citizens.

Gazanfar Ahmedov, Secretary of the Commission, detailed the findings in an article published by local media, highlighting that 59 of the deceased were individuals who had been missing since the First Karabakh War, Caliber.Az reports.

The excavation also revealed the remains of 259 people during large-scale construction and reconstruction efforts in these areas, with 16 identities confirmed from previously reported missing persons.

The State Commission has a list of 3,890 individuals missing from the First Karabakh War (1991-1994), comprising 3,171 servicemen and 719 civilians, including children, women, and older adults. Additionally, reports indicate that 872 people survived the conflict, with 253 taken to Armenia. The Commission has also listed six servicemen as missing from the 2020 Armenia-Azerbaijan war.

The 2020 conflict resulted in Azerbaijan regaining control over occupied territories following a 44-day war with Armenia. 

On September 19, 2023, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces conducted a local anti-terrorist operation in Karabakh to address illegal Armenian armed formations. The operation ceased the following day after the Armenian separatists agreed to withdraw and disarm.