Senator Bill Cassidy | Sen. Bill Cassidy Official Website
Senator Bill Cassidy | Sen. Bill Cassidy Official Website
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and U.S. Representatives Seth Magaziner (D-RI-02), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12), and Frank Pallone (D-NJ-06) have called for sanctions on individuals in the government of Azerbaijan who are associated with the military attacks against and brutal blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh. In a bipartisan, bicameral letter to the Department of State and Treasury, the members of Congress emphasized the need for accountability and urged the agencies to use their discretionary authority under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.
The lawmakers highlighted the dire situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, stating that the blockade imposed by Azerbaijan has deprived approximately 120,000 Armenians of freedom of movement and access to essential goods such as food, medication, and hygiene products. They further mentioned the severe impact of the blockade on at-risk groups, including children, elderly people, and individuals with disabilities and chronic health conditions, whose access to healthcare services has been severely limited or disrupted.
The members of Congress also expressed concern about the Azerbaijani military's full-scale assault on Nagorno-Karabakh, which resulted in a ceasefire and the capitulation of the local government. They warned that this attack has worsened the humanitarian crisis and raised the specter of ethnic cleansing and cultural genocide, as indicated by the government of Azerbaijan's statements about "re-integration."
In their letter, the members of Congress emphasized that the United States, as a world leader on international human rights, must continue to play a role as a mediating force and supporter of peace in the region. They called for the imposition of targeted sanctions on individuals in the Aliyev government responsible for or involved in the violation of human rights in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The letter was also signed by several other senators and representatives, demonstrating bipartisan support for the call for accountability.
To read the full letter, click here.
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