Armenia and Azerbaijan Resume Discussions on Missing Persons: Families of Missing Armenians Still Left in Uncertainty

On June 4, a second round of important talks took place between Armenia and Azerbaijan about the fate of people who went missing during the war that Azerbaijan launched against the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). The meeting was organized between the official commissions of both countries that work on the issue of missing persons.

The National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia announced the news, describing the meeting as a step forward in a long and painful process. The Armenian authorities said that these talks are focused only on humanitarian concerns — not politics. Families on both sides have waited for years to learn what happened to their loved ones. For Armenians, this issue has remained one of the most painful legacies of the war.

According to NSS Director Armen Abazyan, the meeting was "positive" and showed that both sides are ready to keep talking. "We have reached a preliminary agreement with Azerbaijan to begin search operations," said Abazyan. “We are more interested than anyone in seeing results as soon as possible. I can’t say when those results will come, but we are doing everything in that direction.”

While officials struck a cautious tone of progress, there is still no timeline, no detailed plan, and no public list of agreed search sites.

Thousands of Armenians are still searching for answers about what happened to their sons, fathers, and brothers who went missing during and after the war in Artsakh. Many of these individuals disappeared in areas now under Azerbaijani occupation.

The fate of these missing persons is not only a matter of statistics — it is a deep emotional wound for the Armenian nation. Every name represents a family that has not been able to mourn, bury, or move forward. These families continue to live in agony, holding on to hope with every passing day.

During the recent meeting, both sides discussed the possibility of exchanging information to support search and rescue efforts. Coordinating these operations is crucial, especially since some of the locations in question are now captured by Azerbaijan.

The Armenian side emphasized the need for transparency, continuous dialogue, and real action — not just words. “We have agreed to organize and coordinate future search missions,” said Abazyan, but he also made it clear that no timeline has been finalized yet.

Despite many challenges, both sides confirmed the importance of keeping dialogue open. Abazyan stated that there was agreement on the need for ongoing contact, particularly for the sake of the families who are still suffering.

Azerbaijan has a track record of delaying or denying access to sites where Armenian soldiers or civilians may have disappeared. In some cases, there are fears that evidence of war crimes may be hidden or destroyed. 

True peace cannot exist without justice, and justice begins with knowing what happened to the disappeared. 

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