Azerbaijani Ombudsman urges global action on fate of those missing during Karabakh war

Azerbaijan's Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva has called on the international community and global organizations to intensify efforts to determine the fate of Azerbaijanis who went missing during the First Karabakh War, according to her statement dedicated to the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, Report informs.

Sabina Aliyeva emphasized that ongoing armed conflicts in various regions of the world continue to increase the number of missing persons daily.

She recalled that Azerbaijan, a country that suffered long-term occupation, has also been deeply affected by this issue.

"As a result of Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan, thousands of our compatriots went missing, and there is still no information about their fate. According to official data, nearly 4,000 Azerbaijanis went missing, were taken prisoner, or held hostage-including 71 children, 284 women, and 316 elderly people," Aliyeva stated.

She noted that Azerbaijan repeatedly brought this issue to the attention of relevant international organizations and, in line with the Geneva Conventions, demanded that Armenia provide information about the missing.

"Azerbaijan has regularly submitted a resolution on missing persons to the UN General Assembly since 2002. Despite this, no practical steps have been taken so far," Aliyeva said.

She also highlighted that after the Second Karabakh War and the local anti-terrorist operations in September 2023, mass graves were discovered in the liberated territories, allowing authorities to clarify the fate of some individuals who had gone missing during the first conflict.

"Unfortunately, Armenia continues to violate its obligations under international humanitarian law by withholding information about the locations of other mass graves. As a result, families who have been waiting for decades to learn the fate of their loved ones continue to suffer," she added.

Aliyeva concluded her statement by urging the international community and organizations to strengthen efforts in uncovering the fate of the nearly 4,000 Azerbaijanis still missing, and called on Armenia to fulfill its legal obligations.