A round table dedicated to the fifth anniversary of Victory Day on 8 November was held at the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology of ANAS under the theme “Research Conducted by Forensic Archaeology Specialists in the Liberated Territories.” Opening the event, Deputy Director for Scientific Affairs of the Institute, Associate Professor Zaur Hasanov, Doctor of Historical Sciences, spoke about the historic victory achieved five years ago by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces under the leadership of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev. He noted that alongside large-scale reconstruction efforts in the liberated territories, systematic work had begun to search for citizens missing from the First and Second Karabakh wars.

Experienced researchers from the Institute were involved in this effort together with relevant state bodies and international organizations. It became clear that systematic investigation of missing persons required international best practices and the establishment of a specialized field — forensic archaeology — already institutionalized in several countries and grounded in archaeological science. As a result, a Department of Forensic Archaeology was established within the Institute.

The head of the Department of Forensic Archaeology, Akif Guliyev, PhD in History, delivered a presentation supported by electronic visuals titled “Research Conducted by Forensic Archaeology Specialists in the Liberated Territories.” He explained that law enforcement agencies had involved archaeologists in investigations since the early years of independence. Examples include the study of mass graves of victims of Stalin-era repression near Baku in the early 1990s, investigations related to the remains of the 26 Baku Commissars, and archaeological work at the Quba Genocide Memorial site — all widely covered by the media. Following the 44-day Second Karabakh War and Azerbaijan’s victory, archaeologists were again called upon to assist in investigating the fate of missing citizens in the liberated territories. With support from the leadership of ANAS, the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Citizens, relevant government agencies, and international organizations, the Department of Forensic Archaeology was formally created.

Guliyev described the department’s activities since 2022, including joint efforts with archaeologists working in the Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur economic regions. He also highlighted participation in international training programs in countries affected by war, such as Cyprus and Serbia, and active involvement in international conferences on forensic archaeology and anthropology in Türkiye, Australia, and other countries.

He further discussed the practical challenges encountered during investigations. According to Guliyev, the greatest difficulty is coping with emotional and psychological stress. Archaeologists sometimes encounter evidence of severe torture inflicted on captured soldiers and civilians, requiring strong psychological resilience and professional discipline.

The event concluded with discussion among participants and a collective commemoration of those who lost their lives in defense of the homeland.