‘Biological samples were taken from the family members of the vast majority of missing persons. However, this work is not completed and it’s ongoing,’ Ismayil Akhundov, secretary of the State Commission on Prisoners and Missing and Hostaged Citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, head of the Working Group, told APA in an extensive interview.

According to him, all 108 identified people were especially identified using these samples: ‘Without a doubt, the important aspect here is the answer given by the molecular genetics laboratory. If the found bones contain a biological sample, in other words, DNA, it is easy to determine its identity.”

Ismayil Akhundov noted that in addition to that, other methods are used in the process of identification of missing persons: ‘Initially, antemortem – before death – information is collected about the missing persons. After the graves are discovered, postmortem – after death data are collected to reconcile with previous data. In general, identity identification is a very co
mplex process, it requires serious time, material and human resources. The remains found during the exhumation process must meet certain requirements. Unfortunately, not all of the remains we discovered meet those requirements.’

Source: Azeri-Press news agency