Armenia`s NSS stops search for missing in First Nagorno-Karabakh War  of 1991-1994

ArmInfo. The National Security Council of Armenia has stopped dealing with the search for those missing during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War of 1991-1994. This was reported to journalists by the Chairperson of the Council of  Relatives of Missing Liberator Soldiers Rimma Arakelyan after a  closed discussion in the National Assembly of Armenia on the issue of  those missing as a result of military operations in the  Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. 

According to her, the head of the National Security Council of  Armenia Armen Abazyan said this in response to her direct question.  At the same time, Arakelyan noted that she personally saw photos from  the scene of her son's death. "I am grateful to Abazyan for his  honest answer. He honestly said that they are no longer dealing with  this issue. During the First Artsakh War, 770 liberator soldiers are  considered missing in Armenia and Artsakh," explained the mother of  the missing Shahen.

The meeting, which discussed the fates of the missing servicemen of  the First Karabakh War and the 44- day war of 2020, was held under  the chairmanship of the Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia  Alen Simonyan. It was also attended by Chairman of the Standing  Committee on Defense and Security Andranik Kocharyan, other members  of the committee and MPs of the opposition factions. Opposition MP  from the Armenia bloc Garnik Danielyan noted that the parents of the  missing have not received answers to many of their questions.  Danielyan noted that he cannot say much about the meeting, since the  atmosphere was very emotional, but confirmed that the parents have  not received satisfactory answers to their questions. 

"These people have not received due attention all this time. They are  trying to get answers to their questions. The parents gave the most  precious thing, and they have many questions regarding the fate of  their children," the MP said.

In turn, Andranik Kocharyan described the discussion as constructive  and important for all parties. He noted that the meeting lasted five  hours and assured that the discussions would continue. According to  him, the next meeting is scheduled for a month, assuring that by that  time some issues will be resolved. 

Kocharyan also acknowledged that there are parents who were  dissatisfied with the answers received, noting that the reason lies  in their desire to resolve issues "prematurely". "What was discussed  was what was considered important for these discussions. But it was  important not only to hear, but also to give these issues a new level  of control. I believe that we have something to work on, and if it is  possible to save at least one fate, then we must put all our efforts  into it," Kocharyan said, while reacting negatively to the assertions  that discussions on the issue of missing persons had not been held  before, although more than 4 years have passed.

Kocharyan assured that such discussions took place, although not at  such a level and in such a volume. "We have gathered here to solve  the problem. The problem has been outlined. In a month, I hope, we  will be able to come to some decisions. All departments have their  tasks in this area, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," added  the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Defense and Security.

At the same time, he noted that it is too easy to simply demand the  return of the missing or find them through an exchange. "This process  is very painful and is associated with many issues. We must find a  single path to jointly solve this problem. War is a complex thing; it  is necessary to strive for peace," Kocharyan concluded.

Reacting to the meeting, Tigran Abrahamyan, a member of the National  Assembly from the opposition faction "I Have the Honor," noted that  during the meeting the impression was created that the war had just  ended, and new and new work was being initiated regarding the  uncertainties and unknowns, moreover, with promises that do not  inspire optimism.

At the same time, the parents of the missing were laconic after the  meeting in the National Assembly, only expressing hope that this  conversation would yield some results. The parents assured that they  had learned many details, but did not want to voice them. "Of course,  there is no satisfaction with the answers received, but there is some  progress," said one of the parents.

Recall that on December 27, relatives of the missing servicemen  blocked Baghramyan Avenue and demanded a meeting with Andranik  Kocharyan.

It should be noted that the exact number of Armenian prisoners of war  and hostages held in Azerbaijani prisons is still unknown. According  to the latest data from the International Committee of the Red Cross,  as of August 2024, about 1,000 people are considered missing on the  Armenian side, with about 300 people being considered as such after  the latest escalation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone from  autumn 2020 to autumn 2023. Moreover, all the data was collected by  the ICRC based on appeals from the relatives of the missing persons  themselves.

The ICRC also reported that among these 300 people there are several  dozen appeals concerning cases where the family did not agree with  the DNA data presented by the state.