Identification of Individuals Found in Mass Burial Sites May Take 10 Years, ICRC Reminds

The identification of individuals found in mass burial sites could take up to 10 years. As reported by APA, this was stated by Elif Güçüne Eskiçiyoy, the ICRC coordinator for forensic examination issues, during a press conference in Baku.

According to her, the process requires a significant amount of time. “Exhuming the body will facilitate laboratory work. No DNA analysis can provide a 100 percent result. If the skeleton has been completely exhumed, results can be obtained from two samples. Laboratory studies may take a long time if only partial remains have been found,” she explained.

The expert's opinion sharply contrasts with the actions of the Azerbaijani side; every burial site and surrounding area discovered in Artsakh has been declared by Azerbaijani authorities as “burial sites of Azerbaijanis killed by Armenians,” a claim made without any examination and aimed at propaganda purposes.