139 unknown graves have been registered in the republic by the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons of Azerbaijan, State Commission Secretary Shahin Sayilov told APA. Sayilov said that this number will increase, when the burial places in the occupied territories are specified: “There are a lot of unknown graves in those places, as the combat operations were conducted in the occupied territories.”
Sayilov said that Armenians will not impede the disclosure of unknown graves in Azerbaijan’s territories occupied by Armenia: “Armenia has also signed a framework agreement on the collection of ante mortem data on the people missing due to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan and its centralized management. This agreement indicates the consent of both parties on mutual disclosure of unknown graves. This project will be simultaneously implemented in Azerbaijan and Armenia.”
Sayilov said saliva or blood samples will be taken from the families of the missing persons.
“Saliva samples are as accurate as the blood samples. It is easier to take these samples. It creates some problems to keep the blood. ICRC has offered to experiment on saliva samples. The State Commission has agreed to carry out these analyses. These samples will be taken from the members of the missing persons’ families soon. The Cabinet of Ministers, State Commission, Health Ministry and ICRC are taking necessary measures. The project will be simultaneously implemented in Armenia,” he said.
Sayilov said more than 4000 Azerbaijanis went missing as a result of Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
/APA/
