Investigative Committee Reports Official Number of Missing Persons

As of June 16, 2021, the number of servicemen and civilians whose whereabouts are unknown stands at 275. This information was published by the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia.

The statement released by the Committee indicates: "The criminalistic department of the RA Investigative Committee continues the investigation into the aggressive war unleashed and conducted against the Republic of Artsakh by the military-political leadership of the Republic of Azerbaijan since September 27, 2020. This includes the use of pre-recruited mercenaries during military operations, the application of prohibited methods and means of warfare, the failure to differentiate between civilian residents and servicemen, and the systematic, deliberate, and targeted attacks against the civilian population in peaceful areas of the Republic of Artsakh. This particularly involves indiscriminate attacks on the civilian population and civilian objects located deep behind the lines, acts considered serious violations of international humanitarian law, the failure to comply with legal and properly issued orders from the state, signs of negligence towards service responsibilities by the state or official persons, abandonment of the battlefield, or refusal to act with weapons, and investigations launched based on facts of voluntarily leaving the military unit or place of service."

The authority in charge of the investigation is working towards the discovery of missing servicemen and civilians due to acts of aggression.

As of June 16, 2021, the number of servicemen and civilians whose whereabouts are unknown stands at 275," the statement continues.

The Committee indicates that within the framework of the criminal proceedings, a person ceases to be considered missing when factual data is obtained regarding their death as a result of investigative and other procedural actions, or when the whereabouts of the individual become known.

According to the Committee's website, reports circulating in the media on the number of missing servicemen refer to financial reports of compensations provided to families of missing servicemen due to military operations, which does not reflect the number of unknown persons as of that date within the framework of criminal proceedings.

"In particular, it should be noted that relationships related to compensation for damages caused to the life or health of servicemen as a result of military operations, the establishment and operation of the compensation fund, measures to support families of servicemen who went missing as a result of military operations, and the procedure for monthly financial payments are defined by the Law of the Republic of Armenia on Compensation for Damages Caused to the Life or Health of Servicemen during National Defense, the RA Government Decision No. 2001-L of December 10, 2020, on Approving Measures to Support Families of Servicemen Missing as a Result of Military Operations Unleashed by Azerbaijan on September 27, 2020, and Government Decision No. 2180-L of December 24, 2020, on Approving the Procedure for Monthly Financial Payments to Families of Servicemen Missing as a Result of Military Operations Unleashed by Azerbaijan. Accordingly, a missing serviceman acquires the status of a fund beneficiary as a result of data verification conducted by personnel of the main department for health protection and social security of servicemen and veterans of the RA Ministry of Defense, which is then sent to the Servicemen's Insurance Fund. As a result of these measures, a new individual ceases to be considered missing and acquires the status of a fund beneficiary," the Committee's statement concludes.