Bodies of Soldiers Kept in Refrigerated Conditions at +2, +3, +4 Degrees, 'Red Cross' Provides Bags, Ministry Says

The Ministry of Health has issued a statement regarding the incident at the Abovyan branch of the State Medical and Forensic Science Center of Armenia.

"In general, the bodies are kept under refrigerated conditions at +2, +3, +4 degrees Celsius. We should note that the bags for the bodies were provided by the International Committee of the Red Cross. These bags are specially designed for the preservation of corpses and remains. By the way, these bags have been used during the April War, as well as during the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, specifically in cases of emergencies and wartime operations, where large numbers of casualties require special bags for the preservation and transportation of bodies," the statement reads.

It is noted that the sequential numbers for examinations, as indicated by the investigative committee, are recorded on these bags, along with the location where the body or remains were found.

It should be reminded that currently, hundreds of soldiers' bodies are being kept wrapped in polyethylene bags on the floor of the Abovyan Tuberculosis Hospital's morgue. The Ministry of Health has confirmed that remains and bodies of soldiers were stored in the basement of the Abovyan morgue.

The Acting Minister of Health, Anahit Avanesyan, has apologized to the families of the missing soldiers. "It was my oversight not to personally visit and ensure the details of the preservation of the bodies after certain transfers," she stated.

In light of the fact that soldiers' remains and bodies were being stored in the basement of the Abovyan morgue, a service investigation has been ordered by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Parliament member Naira Zohrabyan also reported that the bodies of our fallen soldiers wrapped in cellophane have been transferred to the Martuni morgue.

The director of the Abovyan branch of the State Medical and Forensic Science Center and two employees were dismissed, and the center's director has received a severe reprimand.