As reported by the Vice-president of the Union of Veterans of the Republic of Armenia, Artsakh branch President, Roman Balayan, a part of missing persons from Artsakh are still alive. Mr. Balayan gave details: “Rafayel Balayan, from Hartashen village of Hadrut province, is alive and he is in Azerbaijan’s prison. He is there since 1992. Azerbaijan refuses to give him to Armenia.”
Mr. Balayan is not sure whether Azerbaijan will ever agree on giving Rafayel Balayan back: “As they did to the corpses of our fallen boys, they will never take such a step.”
Roman Balayan informed that corpses of 2 missing people were found and brought to be buried in the fatherland. As stated by him, 23 women freedom fighters died during Artsakh Movement. During the years of war 2 elderly people were able to survive Azerbaijani captivity one of whom passed away last year. 2 commanders are among the other captives – Lyova Sargsyan and Lexander Balayan, there is no information about them in place.
According to Mr. Balayan, corners of glorification of the missing people and the victims of April War of 2016 will be opened in Armenia and Artsakh’s schools and military units by his initiative.
Roman Balayan also told some episodes from the operation of Azerbaijan after April War: “We found corpses of Azerbaijani soldiers in Jabrayil, but they did not want to take their corpses back to later announce that Armenians had taken them hostage.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
