After 2020 autumn war, over 50 Karabakh residents are listed as missing

According to public organizations, 51 residents of Nagorno-Karabakh are listed as missing after the 2020 autumn war, including 20 civilians.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told about it by Armen Asryan, the head of the "Union of Relatives of Those Perished and Missing in the Third Artsakh (or Karabakh, – note of the "Caucasian Knot") War".

Mr Asryan has added that "recently, with the help of DNA analysis, we managed to identify two military servicemen; therefore, if in June we informed about 53 missing citizens, now – about 51."

Meanwhile, he has noted that "for the fourth month now, because of Azerbaijan's refusal, the Armenian party cannot search for the remains" in the territories occupied by Azerbaijan.

Armen Asryan has also stated that no events are held on August 30, the International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearances, as it is difficult for relatives to attend such events every time.

"For us, the official day of missing people is June 29. It's difficult for us to come to the Memorial Complex; while relatives are categorically refusing to put flowers at the monument to the missing people, as they treat it as betrayal. Because this is wrong, since their relatives are alive and are in captivity. However, we are all the time collecting information and transferring it to appropriate authorities," Mr Asryan has assured.

However, according to his story, "unfortunately, Azerbaijan is politicizing the issue of missing persons and in every possible way refuses to treat this issue as humane and humanitarian, which complicates the searches."

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 31, 2022 at 07:14 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.