Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, released a post on August 30 in connection with the International Day of the Disappeared. He noted that the fate of missing persons remains a matter of deep humanitarian and national importance for Azerbaijan.
It was noted that as a result of the former Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, 4,010 Azerbaijani citizens remain registered as missing. This issue is under the direct attention and constant control of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. In accordance with the tasks set by the head of state, the State Commission continues its work to locate citizens, exhumate their remains, and conduct identifications.
“Witness statements are being verified, suspected burial sites investigated, mass graves excavated, and recovered remains examined through forensic medical and DNA analyses. To date, 32 mass graves have been discovered, and the identities of 328 missing persons have been established through DNA analysis.”
It was emphasized that the provision of accurate and comprehensive information by Armenia regarding the fate of missing Azerbaijanis, including their burial locations, is of crucial importance. Despite challenging terrain and weather conditions, as well as landmine hazards, search operations are continuing with the use of all available resources and advanced technologies.
Source: apa.az
