ICRC Reports on Armenian Missing Persons from the 1990s to 2023

According to the ICRC delegation, approximately 1,000 people are considered missing from the Armenian side following the first conflict from the 1990s and military operations between 2020 and 2023. Zara Amatuni, head of communication programs at the ICRC delegation in Armenia, stated this during a conversation with journalists.

She noted that since the 1990s, about 700 missing persons have been registered in the ICRC's offices in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, while around 300 have gone missing as a result of the military operations from 2020 to 2023. These are families who have approached the ICRC to find their loved ones.

Amatuni highlighted that requests for finding relatives have also been submitted by several dozens of families post the escalation from 2020 to 2023, who do not agree with DNA results. It is crucial for the organization to understand why families reject these results and to work with responsible bodies to minimize the number of such families as much as possible.

When asked whether the ICRC is negotiating with the Azerbaijani side regarding search operations, Amatuni mentioned that the organization, as a humanitarian and neutral intermediary, does not play a role in these negotiations. However, it continuously tries to keep the issue in focus for authorities and relevant bodies through dialogue. She stated that the political will from both sides is vital to achieve some progress on this matter.

In cases where relatives assert that their sons or husbands are in captivity and they possess video evidence, but the Azerbaijani side does not confirm this, Amatuni emphasized that the ICRC only meets individuals who are deprived of freedom and whose names have been explicitly communicated and confirmed by the Azerbaijani authorities. She pointed out that families of individuals in captivity are the first to be informed about the ICRC staff's subsequent visits.