YEREVAN. – Some people prefer to send abroad the samples for DNA tests to identify the bodies and remains of servicemen and civilians killed in the recent Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) war. There are not many such cases, but it is the people’s right. The Minister of Health of Armenia, Anahit Avanesyan, told reporters this on Thursday.

"They are sending [them abroad], we also assist so that the whole process is organized quickly and people to have results," the minister added. "[But] so far, the results of the tests performed abroad and the tests performed by us have been identical, the same."

As of March 22, a total of 2,147 bodies and remains of servicemen and civilians killed in the last Artsakh war have been identified, whereas 244 bodies and remains have not been identified.

There are many cases when the parents of the fallen servicemen have questioned the reliability of these DNA identification results and demanded a second test. And other, not trusting the results of these tests, have sent the biological samples abroad.

According to our information, in the near future, Armenia’s center that carries out the DNA identification tests of the fallen soldiers and their relatives is going to send abroad about 80 remains of the casualties, as they are extremely disfigured and it is not possible to identify them with the respective equipment available in Armenia.