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Remains of 500 of nearly 4,000 people missing in First Karabakh War discovered

Akif Guliyev, Head of the Department of Forensic Archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology of ANAS

11 December 2025 15:10 (UTC +04:00)

“About 50 human skeletal remains have been discovered in Karabakh this year and handed over to their families," said Akif Guliyev, Head of the Department of Forensic Archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology of ANAS, in his statement to APA.

“Overall, we have about 4,000 missing persons. Approximately 500 of them have been found and sent to the laboratory,” Akif Guliyev noted.

He stated that research work was carried out this year in Kalbajar, Aghdara, Khojavend, Gubadli, Zangilan, Aghdam, and other areas: “We mainly conducted research in these areas based on witness statements. During the research, alongside skeletal remains, intact skeletons were also discovered.”

He added that the department carried out the exhumation of unknown graves in the cemeteries of Tartar, Beylagan, and Ganja: “In addition, remains were taken from those graves in the Martyrs’ Alley in Baku for DNA analysis. After the DNA results were positive, the remains were exhumed and handed over to their families.”

The department head stated that the research work for 2025 has been completed: “From 2026, we will continue the research work together with the relevant authorities.”