Friday, November 10 2023 10:06

ArmInfo.Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced legislation today demanding Azerbaijan's immediate  release of Armenian prisoners of war, captured civilians, and political prisoners, including Artsakh government officials illegally detained during Azerbaijan's ethnic cleansing last month, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

    The resolution specifically calls on the Biden Administration to  impose sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights  Accountability Act on Azerbaijani government officials responsible  for the illegal detention, torture, and extrajudicial killing of  Armenian POWs. It also reiterates Congressional calls for the  enforcement of Section 907 restrictions on U.S. military and security  assistance to Azerbaijan.

    "Azerbaijan must immediately and unconditionally release all  illegally held Artsakh officials, prisoners of war, and other  detainees, not in barter - as part of Baku's cruel commodification of  human suffering - but rather in compliance with its own obligations  under international law," said ANCA Executive Director Aram  Hamparian.  "We thank Congressman Schiff for introducing this measure  and look forward to working on a bipartisan basis to see this measure  adopted on an urgent basis by the full House of Representatives."

    "Azerbaijan is already guilty of grave atrocities committed during  the recent war, and the continued illegal detention of Armenians  compounds the problem. Azerbaijan's treatment of these prisoners,  including torture and killings, is heartbreaking and a direct threat  to international law and order," said Rep. Schiff.  "My resolution  urges the American government and international community to stand up  to these gross human rights violations being perpetuated against the  Armenian community by the Aliyev regime and return these prisoners  back to their families." The resolution condemns Azerbaijan's illegal  detention of Artsakh civilian and military officials held as  political prisoners: former Artsakh presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako  Sahakyan, and Arayik Harutyunyan, former Artsakh Foreign Minister  David Babayan, Speaker of Artsakh's Parliament Davit Ishkhanyan,  former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, and former Artsakh  military commanders Levon Mnatsakanyan and David Manukyan.  Rep.  Schiff's resolution builds on similar legislation he and the  Congressional Armenian Caucus led in 2021 (H.Res.240), which garnered  broad bi-partisan support.  The resolution's call for U.S. sanctions  on Azerbaijani leaders and enforcement of Section 907 restrictions on  U.S. aid to Azerbaijan echoes bipartisan legislation (H.Res.108 /  H.R.5683) and multiple Congressional letters to the Biden  Administration which has garnered the support of over 100  Congressional leaders.  The full text of Rep. Schiff's resolution is  available here:   https://anca.org/assets/pdf/110923_Schiff_POWresolution.pdf