ArmInfo. The fate of 23 people missing as a result of the explosion at a fuel depot in Berkadzor on the Stepanakert-Askeran road, which occurred on September 25, 2023, will remain unknown. This is stated in a report prepared by the NGO "Center for International and Comparative Law".
The authors of the report recall that during the explosion, hundreds of Artsakh residents were waiting in line at the depot to receive gasoline for evacuation. "The explosion at a fuel depot near Stepanakert resulted in the deaths of 218 people and injuries to hundreds of civilians. The cause of the explosion remains unknown. Azerbaijan has not taken any investigative actions regarding the incident and has not properly searched for the missing Armenians as a result of the explosion. Moreover, in the time leading up to the explosion, Azerbaijan committed severe violations of human rights: blockade, general panic, fuel shortages, and war. These violations ultimately led to the tragic explosion on September 25," the statement says.
The NGO reminds that Azerbaijan has full control over the territory of the Republic of Artsakh, access to the site of the explosion, as well as the ability to obtain DNA samples from missing persons for research. "By failing to take appropriate measures to search for and provide information about missing persons, Azerbaijan violates international human rights law, depriving families of the right to know the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones. Azerbaijan is obligated to provide all available information," the message received by ArmInfo continues.
It is noted that the Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights, in cooperation with the Center for International and Comparative Law, has documented the stories of individuals who are missing as a result of the explosion. They have prepared a report that will be sent to international organizations. The NGO emphasized that the goal of the project is to create international pressure on Azerbaijan to fulfill its international obligations and to work towards finding the 23 people who are missing as a result of the explosion. "This report is a single information resource, containing verified data about the missing individuals and the circumstances surrounding them at the time of the explosion. The report calls on Azerbaijan to provide all available information on those missing as a result of the explosion to aid in their search," the authors of the report emphasized.