Adam Schiff introduces resolution demanding sanctions against Azerbaijan for illegally holding Armenian prisoners

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

The resolution urges the Biden Administration to impose sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act on Azerbaijani officials who are 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 US military and security assistance to Azerbaijan.

ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian thanked Rep. Schiff for introducing this legislation and said that he looked 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,” Schiff said. “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.