Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 4 /Trend R.Hafizoglu/
Appearances of 12 witnesses in Turkey who helped solve crimes were changed, Anadolu agency reported on Friday.
According to the agency, this measure was taken in order to prevent persecution of the witnesses.
The report also said that at the moment all information about 273 people including 105 witnesses and 168 relatives of witnesses are being kept secret, in line with Turkey's Witness Protection Law.
All those whose appearances were changed with the help of plastic surgery have been given new passports, the report said.
According to the statistics, the appearances of seven people were changed in 2007 whilst this figure amounted to 20 in 2010, 90 in 2011 and 87 in 2012.
The appearance of 27 people was changed this year.