Baku analysts explain the procedure of social security for families of missing soldiers

Azerbaijani laws assume no privileges and payments of no benefits to families of missing military servicemen, the analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" have explained. After six months, if the missing person is not found alive, he is assigned the status of a shaheed (deceased martyr); and his family receives all the due benefits.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on January 11, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence (MoD) released an updated list of servicemen who perished during the autumn aggravation of the Karabakh conflict and who had been buried before January 11, 2021. It lists 2841 dead and 64 missing persons.

Telman Abilov, the head of the NGO "Military Lawyers", said that families of the missing militaries can hope for payments only after the military is recognized as a shaheed.

Mr Abilov believes that the released data on the dead and missing Azerbaijani servicemen are close to reality.

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Labour has clarified that if the military serviceman is recognized as shaheed, his family will be given a lump sum of 11,000 manats (USD 6500), plus a monthly allowance of 400 manats (USD 240) and a monthly presidential stipend of 500 manats (USD 300). If the shaheed had children, they are entitled to benefits up to 18 years of age.