Families of missing Azerbaijanis call for support from European institutions

The demonstration was organised by the Garabagh Missing Families Public Union, which represents families seeking the fate of over 4,000 missing persons from the first Karabakh war, which ended in 1994.

The families, whose loved ones include children, women, and the elderly, are urging EU institutions to pressure Armenia into disclosing archive information and the locations of mass graves.

With 32 mass graves recently discovered in Karabakh, the families emphasise that their right to know the truth after 30 years requires international attention.

Personal symbols

The rally participants wore white jackets, each bearing a picture of their loved one, their date of birth, and a question mark, symbolising their unknown fate.

Personal items of the missing, including passports, photos, and clothes, were displayed to highlight the human cost of the conflict.

Progress and obstacles

According to Konul Behbudova, head of the Garabagh Missing Families Public Union, 328 missing persons have been identified with DNA examinations, and the remains of 273 victims have been handed over to their families.

However, the fate of thousands remains unknown, with Behbudova noting that the territories are contaminated with mines and unexploded ordinance, making it difficult to find the remains.

The families' goal is to find the places where these people were buried and any information about their fate, so they can receive their remains and have a place in the cemetery to visit them.

Peace process and wider context

The plight of the Azerbaijani families is now part of the wider peace process and reconciliation between Armenia and Azerbaijan after decades of tragic wars over Karabakh.

Armenia has also sought answers about the fate of hundreds of its own missing citizens from the Karabakh wars.