Baku: Azerbaijan’s State Commission has reiterated its call for family members of missing persons to provide DNA samples. “The State Commission has been carrying out the work of collecting biological samples from the family members of missing persons since 2014. As a result of this process, biological samples from more than 11 thousand donors, that is, from their close relatives, have been collected and systematized for more than 3,700 missing persons,” Eldar Samadov, Deputy Head of the Working Group of the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Missing and Hostages of the Republic of Azerbaijan, stated in an interview with APA.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Samadov noted that many individuals who previously hesitated to provide biological samples, including those abroad, have recently begun to participate in the process. This renewed interest follows the determination of the fate of some missing persons.

Samadov emphasized the importance of collecting biological samples for the identification of discovered remains, despite ongoing challenges in obtaining cooperation from some families. “Undoubtedly, taking biological samples from them is of an important nature for the identification of the discovered remains,” he stated. He also highlighted the administrative and media efforts made to encourage participation and appealed once again to families to contribute DNA samples, stressing its significance in determining the fate of missing persons.

The DNA profiles collected are archived in the Genetic Research Center at the Main Military Medical Directorate of the State Security Service. This initiative, ordered by President Ali Nagiyev upon the appeal of the Chairman of the State Commission, involves molecular-genetic expertise for the collection and identification process, as explained by Samadov.