US Representatives call on President Biden to condemn Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians
p
YEREVAN, June 28. /ARKA/. US Representatives Anna Eshoo and Chris Smith introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh and urging the Biden Administration to take immediate action to hold Azerbaijan accountable for its genocidal aggression, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) on Friday.
/p
p
“The Azerbaijani assault on Nagorno-Karabakh last year brought about the destruction of the ethnic Armenian community that has called the region home for centuries. Azerbaijan’s actions meet every definition of ethnic cleansing and must be condemned as such,” said Congresswoman Anna Eshoo. “Our resolution establishes a clear record of the atrocities perpetrated against the Armenian people and outlines critical steps that the US must take to pursue justice and accountability for these crimes.”
/p
p
“The horrific atrocities and ethnic cleansing perpetrated by Azerbaijan against the Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh does not erase the Armenians’ right to live in their ancient homeland in peace and freedom and to practice their own faith, follow their own customs and speak their own language,” said Representative Chris Smith, who chaired two congressional hearings last year on the plight of the Armenians. “Our bipartisan legislation urges the Biden administration to vigorously support the Armenians’ rights against the ongoing crimes of the Azerbaijani government under its ruthless dictator Ilham Aliyev.”
/p
p
The resolution would recognize Azerbaijan’s forced displacement of Artsakh’s over 100,000 Armenians as an act of ethnic cleansing, and calls on the Administration to make a public determination to the same effect. Additionally, the resolution urges the United States to facilitate a just and lasting peace in the South Caucasus that secures the release of all illegally detained Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives – including Artsakh’s political leaders – and ensures the right of Armenians to return to their home with guarantees for their security.
/p
p
“Having faced no material costs or consequences for its ethnic cleansing of Artsakh, Azerbaijan continues to threaten renewed violence to secure yet more unilateral concessions from Armenia,” ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian remarked. “A just and durable peace must start with accountability. We commend Representatives Eshoo and Smith for their bold leadership in condemning Azerbaijan’s genocidal aggression, urging the Biden Administration to take immediate action to ensure the release of Armenian prisoners and hostages, and pressing for the right of Artsakh’s Armenians to safely return to their homes under international protection.”
/p
p
Azerbaijan launched a full-scale invasion of Nagorno-Karabakh on 19-20 September 2023 using artillery, UAVs, and aircraft. On 28 September, Samvel Shahramanyan, the leader of the self-proclaimed state, signed a decree that put the republic out of existence starting 1 January 2024.
/p
p
Roughly a week after the invasion, all but a few ethnic Armenians left Nagorno-Karabakh. The Armenian government reported registering a total of 115,000 refugees.
/p
p
br
/p