Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 13 / Trend , A.Huseynbala/
The Azerbaijani State Commission on Hostages, POWs and Missing People released a final report on its activities in 2008.
"Materials concerning 295 Azerbaijani citizens were sent to the International Red Cross Committee (IRCC) in 2008," the report said. "They were registered as missing people with the commission, but not with the IRCC."
The document says the fate of 162 individuals who were registered as missing people was uncovered this year thanks to the commission. Since 2005, the commission has uncovered the fate of 846 individuals.
"We learned that 57 are still alive," the report said. "Another 45 died in battles and were buried. Their families identified their bodies. Our investigations uncovered that 18 people went missing during combat. According to data from Dec. 25, 4,210 people were registered as missing."
Investigations uncovered that 39 people may be safe and living in territories occupied by Armenian armed forces.
The report says the Armenian armed forces took hostage soldier Yaqub Mukhtarov, 21, March 9 near the Tovuz region. He was retuned April 23. Soldier Vusal Heybatov, 20, was taken hostage April 11 near the Agdam region and returned May 3. Civilian Arzu Eyyubov, 34, was taken hostage on March 1 near the Agstafa region and returned on Aug. 14.
"The dead body of soldier Orkhan Shalimov, 21, was handed over on Nov. 19," the report said. "He had been shot by Armenian armed forces after breaking the ceasefire near the Fuzuli region on Nov. 15. Armenian soldier Asatryan Ambarsum Mnatsakanovich who was detained on Aug. 4, 2007 in the Tovuz region was given to Armenian armed forces on Jan. 25, 2008. Armenian soldiers Enunkyan Agasi Atamovich, 22, Zohrabyan Artem Andranikovich, 23, Torosyan Karen Chivanovich, 26, and Gnabyan Vano Nikolaevich, 23, were detained in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic on April 19 and returned to the Armenian armed forces on Aug. 4. Gabrielyan Grant Samvelovich, 28, was detained in the Khojavand region on May 16 and returned on Aug. 19."
The commission learned that a soldier listed as a prisoner of war since 1993 was not being held hostage.
Inquiries concerning 850 people were sent to various governmental agencies and international organizations to clarify information obtained by the commission. Personal cases were filed regarding 1,190 individuals.
Appeals made by relatives to the commission and Heydar Aliyev Foundation concerning 31 missing people were also reviewed.
The relatives of 156 missing people appealed to the commission. Their appeals were reviewed and they were informed about measures underway to find their loved ones.
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