Hundreds of Azerbaijanis in Armenian captivity

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Dec 23 2004

The State Commission on Captives, Hostages and Missing Persons held
its first meeting in a new composition at the Ministry of National
Security on Saturday.

The Commission chairman, Minister Eldar Mahmudov stated that the
commission, in its new format, will be even more active in conveying
to Azerbaijani and international community the facts on violation of
international norms by Armenia, which perpetrated ethnic cleansing,
massacre and vandalism against Azerbaijanis and holds them in
captivity.

Members of the commission said that international organizations are not
providing the needed assistance in searching for Azerbaijani captives
and hostages and pointed out the importance of seeking other ways of
resolving the problem.

The speakers also reaffirmed that up till December 1, 2004, 4,852
Azerbaijanis became missing in the conflict zone, including 54
children, 323 women, and 410 elderly people.

In 1998-2004, 1,360 Azerbaijanis were released from Armenian
captivity, including 166 children, 335 women and 286 elderly people.
The undisputed facts show that at least 783 Azeri citizens, including
18 children, 46 women and 69 elderly people, were taken captive and
hostage by Armenia. However, this was concealed from international
organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC). The list of these people has been compiled based on witness
testimonies of Azerbaijanis released from captivity and those from
other sources.

Most of these people were killed while in Armenian captivity, died
from either torture or diseases, while some of them are still being
withheld in Armenia and the occupied Azerbaijani territories and used
for slave labor.