DNA Test Results Are Being Falsified, 'We Will Burn Heratsi': Parents of the Missing Sound the Alarm

Relatives of soldiers who went missing after participating in military operations and becoming trapped in Kovsakan (Zangelan) are raising alarms that DNA test results are being falsified. One parent shared with 168.am the circumstances leading to this conclusion.

They recalled that about a month ago, soldiers from the same military unit had gone to Kovsakan (Zangelan), where 14 body bags were extracted and handed over to the morgue. Recently, parents received a call from the Heratsi morgue stating that one of the soldiers’ DNA matched. They were also informed of the deceased’s mother’s name and phone number.

“One of Heratsi’s doctors called one of our boys and asked who this or that person was among our parents. We realized that there is no such person on our list and asked to pass on the phone number. We established contact, and a woman answered crying, asking what we wanted from her, claiming she buried her child on October 23, and the coffin was open, with no remains missing. Notably, her son had died in an entirely different area, not in Kovsakan (Zangelan),” recounted the mother of one of the missing servicemen.

She reminded that they had submitted DNA samples back in mid-January, but there had been no response. On February 11, when they held a protest in front of the government, they promptly received a call informing them of a DNA match.

“We hadn’t even reached Ejmiatsin when we got a call saying there was a DNA result. It seemed like they were trying to partially silence us. I called the investigator and told them to preserve that bone carefully and ensure it doesn’t get lost. I need to take it to Moscow; I must investigate everywhere. Since that day, there have been no further calls, but about four days ago a forensic doctor called, saying you have an identification. We called the relative, but they didn’t answer; we tried calling three days, but they didn’t pick up until the day of the funeral,” she explained.

“These people came to Ejmiatsin, we met and told them that was not your relative’s body. We ask them where their child had last seen, and they replied that their child had been in Shushi. They spoke to their child on November 7. Zangelan is one place, and Shushi is quite another. This person was told four or five days ago that there is a match, and then they were buried. Two days ago, there was a funeral; we had gone to their home to ensure proper burial procedures were followed, knowing they had buried a hero. How did the body of someone killed in Shushi end up in the pit of Kovsakan (Zangelan)... terrible things are happening. We will burn Heratsi, we will burn it, this is not right,” said the parent of one of the missing soldiers.

They also urged the newly appointed Minister of Health to take this issue seriously; otherwise, their actions would become more drastic. The Ministry of Health has not provided a clear position on the issue, stating that the data presented lacks specific details.

“It is difficult to provide an opinion based on such limited information. If there had been specifics, the case would be studied, and we would understand what the matter is about,” said the press secretary of the Minister of Health, Hripsime Khachatryan.