About 350 Armenian Soldiers' Bodies Found or Exchanged, Says Artsakh Ombudsman Artak Beglaryan

Since November 13, as part of the process of searching for and exchanging the bodies of missing and fallen soldiers, around 350 Armenian servicemen's remains have been found or exchanged. The operations started in the Shushi region and have recently expanded to areas including Martuni, Karmir Shuka, and Mataghis.

Negotiations are also ongoing in other sectors regarding the implementation of exchange and search operations. Days ago, one injured police officer was found near Shushi, who had been hiding in the forest for over six days and was rescued as a result of search efforts. Unfortunately, no other living soldiers have been located so far.

Preliminary examinations of a group of bodies have revealed cases of murder of the wounded and mutilation of the remains of the deceased. Three civilian bodies have been found from Shushi, which were brutally killed by the Azerbaijani armed forces. Identified remains are handed over to their relatives, while when it is not possible to determine identity on the ground, it is done based on the results of DNA analysis.

The process of searching for and exchanging the bodies of the missing and deceased is being carried out with the support of the Russian peacekeeping mission, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the state emergency service of the Republic of Artsakh, with the assistance of the ministries of defense. The Office of the Human Rights Defender of Artsakh assists in data collection and processing, as well as documenting human rights violations within the framework of the fact-finding mission.

It is crucial that all state and international structures work as efficiently and promptly as possible to save the lives of living missing persons and prisoners of war, and to deliver the bodies of our fallen heroes to their relatives. I am also trying to take all possible steps within and beyond my powers to support this goal.

Let me emphasize that fact-finding work is also being conducted regarding captured servicemen and civilians, with information regularly being provided to the Red Cross and competent state authorities.

Once again, I express my deepest condolences, pride, and gratitude to all the families of the fallen; your sons, brothers, and fathers died for all of us, and we are forever indebted to them, you, and all defenders of the Motherland.

Reported by Artsakh Republic Ombudsman Artak Beglaryan