August 30 – On the occasion of the International Day of the Disappeared, Azerbaijan continues to keep on the agenda the issue of determining the fate of its citizens who went missing or were taken captive as a result of past conflicts. The disappearance of more than 4,000 Azerbaijanis since the First Karabakh War remains one of the most serious humanitarian consequences suffered by the country. Although Azerbaijan has raised this issue with international organizations for many years, unfortunately, international institutions and human rights organizations have not been sufficiently active in addressing the matter.
Political commentator and human rights defender Ahmad Shahidov, who is currently in Washington, told ARB24 Television in an interview that the fate of missing Azerbaijanis has been repeatedly raised with international organizations over the past 30 years. He noted that Azerbaijan has repeatedly called for an international fact-finding mission to be sent to Armenia and for the issue to be investigated on the ground. However, neither international organizations nor Armenia have shown the necessary interest in this matter. According to Ahmad Shahidov, nearly six years after the end of the Second Karabakh War, 32 mass graves have been discovered during excavation works carried out by Azerbaijan in the liberated territories, while the remains of hundreds of missing persons have been identified and returned to their families.
Ahmad Shahidov noted that search and investigation efforts in this direction are still ongoing. He stressed that, at a time when the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia is nearing completion and the signing of a peace agreement is expected, addressing the humanitarian consequences of the conflict is also of particular importance. He emphasized that Azerbaijan will continue its calls to both international organizations and Armenia, expressing hope that Armenia will engage in sincere cooperation within the framework of the peace process to determine the fate of missing Azerbaijanis and identify the locations where they were buried.
