Residents of Lori Among Captured Soldiers; One Identified by Photo

On November 16, as a result of Azerbaijani aggression along Armenia's eastern border, 31 soldiers were reported captured, according to official sources. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that the 24 individuals listed as missing by the Ministry of Defense are likely captured.

Among the missing are residents of Lori Province. Specifically, two of them are from the village of Debet and are contract soldiers. Their families have been unable for two weeks to receive specific information from the relevant authorities regarding whether the contract soldiers are on the list of captives.
“Factinfo” connected with Ashot Ghazaryan, the mayor of Debet, who confirmed that one of the contract soldiers was originally from Debet but lived in Vanadzor, while the other is a permanent resident of Debet.

“Among those born in Debet and currently living here, we have one dead and one missing as of November 16. There is also one individual from Debet who lives in Vanadzor and is considered missing, as Azerbaijan has not officially acknowledged their captivity,” Ghazaryan said.

He noted that one of the contract soldiers has been recognized in photographs circulated by Azerbaijan, while no footage or photographs of the other have been seen.
“Both are contract soldiers. One has been identified by photos, while the other has not been seen in any videos or images. The contract soldier living in Debet has a young child, parents, and a wife. His only source of income is his job; in this situation, how can they not need assistance? The provincial administration plans to provide a one-time financial aid today,” Ghazaryan added.

He mentioned that both the mayor's office and the families have reached out to the relevant authorities and received responses indicating that everything is being done for the confirmation of captives.
“The issue is very complex, and I won’t comment further. From my community, both we and the families have approached the appropriate bodies, and we have noted their active interest in the confirmation of captives by Azerbaijan. Steps are being taken to return the captives. However, there is no visible result at this moment as we lack information regarding the captives confirmed by Azerbaijan, but work is ongoing,” he said.

Ghazaryan noted that as long as the fact of captivity is not confirmed by Azerbaijan, the contract soldiers remain classified as missing. In response to comments regarding the Prime Minister's assertion that the 24 soldiers missing due to Azerbaijani aggression in Syunik on November 16 have been captured, he stated that the Prime Minister can explain those figures.
The mayor informed that relatives of those with unknown fates have also visited the Ministry of Defense.