Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, Edward Markey, and six Senate colleagues have introduced a resolution demanding answers on Azerbaijan's human rights record. The resolution requires the U.S. Secretary of State to provide a report on Azerbaijan's human rights practices, specifically concerning allegations of human rights violations against ethnic Armenians.

"Azerbaijan has already been bulldozing holy sites and starving Armenian communities. This is the type of country the Biden administration wants supplying LNG to Europe instead of Louisiana natural gas?" said Senator Cassidy.

"The need to hold Azerbaijan's government accountable and forge a peaceful path forward is long overdue," said Senator Markey. "Military action has never been the solution to peace and stability in Nagorno-Karabakh. This resolution puts pressure on Azerbaijan's government to uphold human rights and stop committing crimes against ethnic Armenians in the region. We must protect the will, the rights, and the bedrock freedoms of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh."

The resolution comes after Azerbaijan's large-scale military offensive against the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, which has resulted in the displacement of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians who have fled to Armenia in fear of further persecution. Prior to the attack, Azerbaijani forces blockaded the Lachin corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia and the outside world, preventing essential goods and humanitarian aid from reaching the ethnic Armenians in the region.

The resolution, co-sponsored by Senators Marco Rubio, Peter Welch, Bob Menendez, Gary Peters, Elizabeth Warren, and Sheldon Whitehouse, requires the State Department to produce a report that includes an assessment of Azerbaijan's human rights practices, as well as an evaluation of the impact of U.S. arms transfers to Azerbaijan.

The resolution has garnered support from various organizations, including Freedom House, Human Rights Foundation (HRF), the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), National Council of Churches (NCC), the Arms Control Association (ACA), Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC), Center for International Policy (CIP), Peace Action, Common Defense, Action Corps, Foreign Policy for America (FP4A), Center for Victims of Torture (CVT), Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), National Iranian American Council (NIAC) Action, Women for Weapons Trade Transparency, Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding & Policy, Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), In Defense of Christians (IDC), American Friends of Kurdistan (AFK), and the Anglican Office for Government & International Affairs.

Annie Shiel, U.S. Advocacy Director of the Center for Civilians in Conflict, emphasized the importance of Congress reclaiming its oversight responsibilities when it comes to U.S. arms transfers and military aid. "In Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan's blockade and subsequent armed attacks have brought about a humanitarian crisis for tens of thousands of civilians. Congress is right to ask serious questions about Azerbaijan's human rights and civilian protection record and the impact of U.S. arms transfers," she said.

Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America, highlighted the need for Congressional oversight of U.S. military assistance and the enforcement of Section 502B(c) to reassert human rights at the center of U.S. foreign policy. "Azerbaijan's ethnic cleansing of Artsakh's entire indigenous Armenian population last year was a modern-day genocide. The U.S. had every opportunity to prevent it but instead enabled it through the reckless provision of military assistance," he said.

Javier El-Hage, Chief Legal and Policy Officer of the Human Rights Foundation, called for a reassessment of U.S. military assistance to the Aliyev regime, citing Azerbaijan's human rights violations and the persecution of opposition figures and journalists.

Nancy Okail, President and CEO of the Center for International Policy, applauded the resolution for seeking accountability for U.S. arms sales to Azerbaijan. She emphasized the need for the U.S. government to take the enforcement of its own arms laws and international humanitarian obligations seriously.

Lillian Mauldin, Board Member of Women for Weapons Trade Transparency, urged Congress to utilize their oversight powers to prevent U.S. assistance from being used in human rights violations and to protect freedom of expression and independent media.

Sarah Leah Whitson, Executive Director of Democracy for the Arab World Now, emphasized the importance of consistent and comprehensive enforcement of U.S. laws regarding military aid.

The resolution introduced by Senators Cassidy, Markey, and their colleagues serves as a call for accountability and highlights the need to address human rights violations in Azerbaijan. The report that will be produced as a result of this resolution will shed light on Azerbaijan's human rights practices and the impact of U.S. arms transfers, ultimately aiming to protect the rights and freedoms of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh.