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Azerbaijan's SSS Military Medical Department identifies 327 missing persons

30 June 2026 11:25 (UTC +04:00)

"The conflict ended a long time ago, and bone samples collected from the discovered burial sites have undergone significant degradation, particularly due to environmental factors," Head of the Military Medical Department of the State Security Service, Medical Service Major General Rufat Aliyev, said at the international conference titled "Modern Approaches and Strengthening Cooperation in Resolving the Issue of Missing Persons," held within the framework of cooperation with the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP), APA reports.

He said that DNA fragmentation and chemical damage create serious obstacles to obtaining genetic profiles.

"Thanks to the application of enhanced protocols and other methods by specialists, it has been possible to carry out complex genetic tasks during the forensic medical examination stage. To date, the Military Medical Department has conducted the genetic identification of 327 missing persons," he said.

Firuza Vahid

Rufat Aliyev State Security Service Military Medical Department missing persons genetic identification DNA forensic medicine ICMP Azerbaijan mass graves human remains genetics identification conference