Ministry of Health Takes Risky Step: Remains of Fallen Soldiers to be Sent Abroad

As of March 22, the bodies and remains of 2,147 fallen soldiers and civilians from the last war in Artsakh have been identified. This was reported in response to a written inquiry from NEWS.am by the Ministry of Health.

Specifically, as of March 22, 2,294 samples taken from parents and 2,391 samples from corpses and remains have been subjected to forensic genetic examination, resulting in the identification of 2,147 bodies of victims. This means that as of March 22, 244 bodies and remains have yet to be identified.

According to data received from the ministry, during the period from March 13 to March 23, or over 10 days, DNA identification has been conducted for 70 fallen soldiers. It averages to around 5-7 identifications per day. For comparison, in December, 66 identifications were conducted over 10 days, in January, there were 304 in 10 days, and for February and March, there were 205 identifications in 10 days.

It should be noted that these are forensic genetic examinations of the unidentifiable bodies and remains of fallen soldiers and civilians. The delay in the process of identifying the victims' bodies is attributed to several factors.

According to our information, about 80 parents of missing service members have so far refused to provide biological samples, believing that their sons are alive, while it is possible that the unidentified bodies and remains might match the DNA of the parents of the missing soldiers. An important factor is also that in areas under enemy control, recent months have seen the retrieval of primarily remains from fallen soldiers, making the identification process more complicated.

It is noteworthy that each of the bones obtained must be examined, as it is possible that the bones in one package belong to different individuals. Due to partial or incomplete examination of the bones, it may happen that a sample of someone's remains is not identified and is buried with other remains. Consequently, that service member will continue to be considered missing, which is a gross violation of the state's obligations towards the fallen soldiers.

It is also worth mentioning that many parents of the fallen soldiers have questioned the credibility of DNA identification results and demanded a repeat examination. Some, not trusting the results, have sent biological samples abroad.

According to our information, the State Health Agency of Armenia, which conducts DNA identifications of fallen soldiers and their relatives, is planning to send around 80 remains of the victims abroad soon, as they are extremely damaged and cannot be identified with the equipment available in Armenia.

It should be reminded that last December, the Ministry of Health acquired a new flow of forensic genetic identification research from the USA worth around 300 million drams, aimed at conducting DNA identification examinations between the remains of fallen soldiers and samples taken from their parents. On January 5, NEWS.am noticed this questionable deal, noting that the center already had the same equipment.

We recorded that the automated system had the capacity to perform up to 300 DNA typings per day, but the agency was unable to utilize even 10 percent of this capacity, as it lacked the expert potential to carry out the complex processes involved in DNA sequencing from bones. And now, three months after acquiring new equipment, officials are forced to send genetic samples abroad, calling into question the efficiency of the 300 million dram deal.

It is notable that after the war, the government granted a monopoly on the DNA identification process to the Ministry of Health's agency, thereby not allowing the relatives of the victims to verify the questionable results in other laboratories operating in Armenia. Thus, the only alternative for parents has become sending genetic samples abroad. However, few are aware of the dangers and potential risks of this process.

The transfer of genetic samples abroad to any organization might threaten and jeopardize national security, especially in terms of the development of biological weapons. In general, DNA examinations should be conducted within Armenia, under strict state control of the database.

Incidentally, the issue of sending genetic samples of fallen soldiers' bodies abroad was discussed in the government last December. According to our information, based on the proposal by the head of a private organization, the matter of sending the biological samples of fallen soldiers for DNA examination to a center in Ohio, USA was considered. In particular, it was proposed that this center could perform the examination at lower prices ($80 per DNA sample) within a 10-day timeframe. Initially, the government agreed to this but later, after hearing professional arguments, refused this “tempting” yet simultaneously dangerous proposal. However, it appears that three months after this discussion, sector officials, unable to resolve the issues arising during the identification studies, have favored the dangerous idea of sending genetic samples abroad.

It is likely that in justifying this decision, the responsible bodies will place the blame on the relatives of the victims, indicating that it is their wish, whereas the state could organize all of this within Armenia while maintaining all safety and international standards.