US Congressman Schiff seeks seizure of Azerbaijani assets to fund Artsakh revenue recovery

Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) has introduced a bipartisan bill to seize Azerbaijani assets for transfer to an Artsakh Revenue Recovery Fund that would be established to compensate Armenians forcibly driven from Artsakh for lost revenue resulting from Azerbaijan’s genocidal ethnic cleansing, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) reports.

“Azerbaijan’s continued actions against the people of Artsakh have created a humanitarian disaster and amounted to ethnic cleansing,” said Rep. Schiff, upon introduction of the measure. “We must ensure that those responsible are held accountable and that the innocent victims of Artsakh are compensated for their immense losses. My legislation will provide a mechanism for justice and financial restitution for those who have lost everything due to Azerbaijan’s aggression.”

Joining Rep. Schiff as original cosponsors of the bipartisan measure are Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Representatives Gabe Amo (D-RI), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Jim Costa (D-CA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), James McGovern (D-MA), Grace Meng (D-NY), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Linda Sánchez (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), and Lori Trahan (D-MA).

“Azerbaijan must accept responsibility for the enormous humanitarian crisis that its blockade and military assault on Artsakh created. It must release the hostages and prisoners and commit to the preservation of Armenian cultural heritage. It must assure those who have property in Artsakh the ability to return to their ancestral home and to rebuild their lives and ease the suffering of refugees now. Azerbaijan must accept the responsibility to compensate lost revenue of those who left Artsakh. This compensation cannot fully address the disruption to lives. But, it is an important start to address the current suffering of those who lost so much,” said Rep. Schiff.