Baku: Obstacles to determining the fate of missing persons have been revealed, said Major General Sherafet Hasanov, Deputy Head of the State Security Service, during the presentation of the “Assessment Report: Accounting for Missing Persons in the Republic of Azerbaijan” by the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP), organized by the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages, and Missing Persons, APA reports.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Major General Hasanov highlighted several significant factors hindering the search for missing persons. A primary challenge stems from the aftermath of a 30-year occupation, which left the territories heavily contaminated with mines and unexploded ordnances (UXOs). Since the end of military operations, 231 incidents of mine explosions have been recorded, resulting in the deaths of 70 individuals and injuries to 314 others.

The occupation period also witnessed widespread destruction, including vandalism affecting infrastructure, settlements, and the landscape. Cemeteries and burial sites, some belonging to missing persons, were systematically destroyed. These actions have severely impacted efforts to locate and identify missing individuals.

Major General Hasanov further noted that these issues have complicated the work of the State Commission. Even those providing information about burial sites are often unable to pinpoint the exact locations when taken to the areas due to the extensive changes in the landscape and destruction of landmarks.