Why are the latest military losses not disclosed?

A conspicuous silence surrounds the recent losses incurred during the military operations in Karabakh on September 19, a conflict that lasted merely a day. Surprisingly, Azerbaijan has yet to reveal the extent of its casualties. President Ilham Aliyev, in his address to the nation on September 20 after a ceasefire was reinstated in the region, touched upon the topic of the wounded and the fallen but refrained from divulging specific figures.

In the week following the hostilities, social media has been awash with images of military personnel reportedly lost in the recent military actions, along with somber funeral processions. Several experts have ventured various estimates, and these numbers have gone unchallenged or officially confirmed by Azerbaijani officials. Some argue that the secrecy is justified, asserting that disclosing losses during an ongoing conflict might negatively impact the morale of the armed forces.

According to the Caspian Military Research Center's head, brave Mammadov, their research indicates that at least 150 Azerbaijani servicemen lost their lives, and more than 500 were injured during  "anti-terrorist measures."

In an interview with Radio Azadlig  Mammadov cites the absence of a clear end to hostilities as the primary reason for the government's reluctance to reveal casualty figures. He points out that while the anti-terror operation has concluded, the region remains tense, with the potential for skirmishes due to the presence of certain armed groups in specific areas. Until these groups are fully disarmed and the situation stabilizes, official figures may remain undisclosed.

The Ministry of Defense did not offer an official statement on the matter, but Fazil Mustafa, a member of the Milli Majlis Committee on Human Rights, suggested in an interview with Turan that work is ongoing to compile the data. He mentioned the challenges posed by mine-laden areas and the possibility of wounded individuals being found in remote locations, making it difficult to provide precise numbers.

Mustafa emphasized the significance of the issue, asserting that these are citizens who sacrificed their lives for their homeland. He also commended the extensive efforts made by the ministry and other organizations in this regard.

Human rights activist Anar Mammadli, however, raised questions about the delay in releasing casualty figures, noting that previous conflicts saw the government announcing casualty data after operations had concluded. He suggested that the delay might signify ongoing uncertainty regarding the conflict's status and the potential for further developments.

To recap, on September 19, Baku declared the commencement of "local anti-terrorist measures" in Karabakh, demanding the withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the region. Yerevan, in response, denied having military forces in Karabakh and accused Azerbaijan of launching a "large-scale aggression" in the region. A ceasefire agreement was reached on September 20, with the understanding that Armenian armed forces would vacate Azerbaijani territories and that illegal Armenian armed groups would be disbanded. Subsequently, representatives from both Azerbaijani central authorities and Armenian residents of Karabakh convened in Yevlakh and Khojaly, focusing primarily on humanitarian concerns.