The Investigative Committee of Armenia refuses to provide information about the number of people who have applied to the preliminary investigation body with the request to conduct DNA tests abroad to identify the bodies and remains of deceased servicemen under the criminal case related to the war and being investigated by the Investigative Committee. In response to an inquiry from Armenian News-NEWS.am, the Committee reported that it rejects provision of information since the information is considered a secret of the preliminary investigation.

The DNA expert examination of bodies and remains is designated at the initiative of the parents and within the scope of the criminal case, based on the relevant decision of the body conducting proceedings.

The Investigative Committee also refused to state the countries, in the laboratories of which DNA tests of biological samples are being conducted and whether the Committee is overseeing the process or not, taking into consideration the potential security risks that may emerge during the transfer of a genetic code to another country. The Ministry of Health is also keeping the information on sending the DNA samples abroad confidential. In response to an inquiry from Armenian News-NEWS.am, the Ministry of Health had urged to request information from the Investigative Committee, noting that the Scientific-Practical Center of Forensic Medicine doesn’t send samples abroad without a relevant decision of the preliminary investigation body. However, yesterday, in an interview aired on Armenian Public Television, the Center’s director Mher Bisharyan declared that biological samples, which have undergone expert examination, yet haven’t been identified, have been sent to the Netherlands.