17:45

Measures to identify mass graves are underway

In accordance with the relevant order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, search operations are being carried out in the liberated territories to identify possible graves of Azerbaijani citizens who went missing during the First Karabakh War.

As a result of search operations carried out in accordance with the testimonies of hostages from the First Karabakh War, mass graves were discovered in Edilli village of Khojavend region and Fizuli city, and a team of specialists from relevant government agencies was involved in the exhumation process.

During the initial excavation in the territory of Edilli village, the remains of 6-7 people were found. The found remains represent one of numerous mass burial sites. According to eyewitnesses, the bodies of dozens of Azerbaijani servicemen and civilians killed during the occupation of the village of Edilli were in a military truck and then buried in mass graves with the participation of Azerbaijani hostages. It is believed that there are several mass graves in the village of Edilli. The search and exhumation of graves is being continued by specialists.

Some of the corpses buried in the village of Edilli belong to Azerbaijani citizens who were taken hostage by the Armenian military during the First Karabakh War, detained there and tortured to death.

The discovery of mass graves in the liberated territories once again confirms that during the First Karabakh War, the Armenian military grossly violated the norms of international humanitarian law and “skillfully” concealed these crimes against humanity.

The State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons declares that the responsibility for the war crimes committed by the Armenian military and armed separatist groups during the First Karabakh War as a result of Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan, violation of international humanitarian law in relation to hostages, as well as non-submission of information on mass grave sites completely remains on the The Republic of Armenia.

Representatives of foreign and local mass media were invited to Edilli village and Fizuli city of Khojavend region on February 24 and 25 to get acquainted with these crimes against humanity and the international community and were informed in detail about the facts.