The Interagency Commission on Issues of Prisoners of Wars, Hostages and Missing Persons (whereabouts unknown) was formed by the decree of the RA Prime Minister dated October 20, 2022 N 1236-A.

By the decision of the Director of the RA NSS dated November 10, 2022, the individual composition of the Commission and the working group operating under it were approved.

During the first meeting of the Commission held on November 16, 2022, representatives of three non-governmental organizations were elected which expressed desire to join the Commission.

On December 16, 2022, a regular meeting of the Commission was held, which was attended by members of the working group operating under the Commission, as well as more than 100 family members of prisoners of wars, hostages and missing persons.

During the regular meeting of the Commission held on December 29, 2022, which was also attended by a representative of the delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Armenia, special attention was paid to those issues that require immediate resolution, including issues raised in the statements by the parents and relatives of prisoners of wars and missing persons.

Relevant announcements regarding the three meetings of the Commission were published on the official website of the NSS at the following links:

• https://www.sns.am/hy/news/view/763

• https://www.sns.am/hy/news/view/773

• https://www.sns.am/hy/news/view/779.

On December 30, 2022 the meeting of the Chairman of the Commission, Director of the NSS, Major General A. Abazyan with more than 90 family members of prisoners of war and missing persons was held in the NSS.

To ensure constant communication with parents at Ulnetsi 56/5, the relevant employees of the RA MoD record applications and proposals received from parents and relatives and transfer them to the working group.

Since February 8, 2023, daily meetings were held at the same address with the participation of a group of parents and members of the working group.

On February 27, 2023, at the initiative of the Chairman of the Commission, a meeting was held with more than 80 family members of missing persons.

The working group operating under the Commission, in addition to meetings with parents, held meetings with representatives of the delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

From December 19, 2022 to this day, 101 written applications have been submitted to the Commission for information about the circumstances of missing persons with legal, medical and social issues. In addition, there were also oral appeals. As a result of the consideration of applications, some of them received the necessary solutions, the necessary information was provided, and the other part was sent to the competent departments for consideration to provide information and proposals.

Attaching importance to the process of legal regulation of relations related to prisoners of war, hostages and missing persons, the Chairman of the Commission instructed the Ministry of Justice of RA to develop the concept of a draft law on prisoners of war, hostages and missing persons (location unknown), and the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of RA was instructed to implement assessment of the needs of the families of prisoners of war, hostages and missing persons.

The Director of the National Security Service, Major-General A. Abazyan, continues to periodically meet with the parents and relatives of missing persons.

As a result of the 44-day war and post-war events, the bodies and remains of 422 dead Armenian servicemen were returned to the Republic of Armenia, 225 of which died during the September events in 2022. The activities to remove the bodies of 2 Armenian servicemen who died as a result of the September 2022 events continue.

In addition, 1 officer of the Jermuk military unit and 1 serviceman were withdrawn from the deep rear of opponent, the territory that came under the control of Azerbaijan as a result of hostilities from September 13 to 14, 2022.

To this day, 173 servicemen and civilians have been returned from captivity.