Resolution Introduced in the U.S. Calls on Biden Administration to Consider Sanctions Against Azerbaijan

U.S. Congresswoman Jackie Speier, along with members of the Congressional Armenian Caucus Adam Schiff, Frank Pallone, and Anna Eshoo, has officially introduced a resolution condemning Azerbaijan's atrocities and war crimes against Armenia and the Armenian people.

The resolution presented by Speier emphasizes that Azerbaijan has grossly violated the provisions of the Geneva Conventions by carrying out premeditated killings, torture, and exhibiting inhumane treatment towards civilians and prisoners of war. It also references the September 13, 2022 attack by Azerbaijani armed forces on the sovereign territory of Armenia, which mirrors Azerbaijan's large-scale assault on Artsakh in 2020 and the war crimes, including the mutilation of the bodies of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani troops.

The resolution cites the October 2020 missile attack by Azerbaijan on a maternity hospital in Artsakh, as well as documented cases of decapitation of civilians by Azerbaijani soldiers, which have been recorded on video and verified by non-governmental organizations. Additionally, it addresses the use of phosphorus bombs by Azerbaijan during the 44-day war, a tactic prohibited by the Geneva Conventions.

“For a long time, Azerbaijan has committed atrocities against Armenian soldiers and civilians with impunity, ranging from the dismemberment of soldiers to decapitation, and deliberate targeting of medical facilities and religious sites. Azerbaijan has repeatedly disregarded basic human values and international law. We must hold Aliyev's government accountable for the violations of the Geneva Conventions and the atrocities committed by his forces against Armenian soldiers and civilians,” stated Speier.

The resolution notes that Azerbaijan is unlawfully detaining over 100 Armenian prisoners of war, which constitutes a gross violation of the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020. It condemns Azerbaijan's destabilizing actions, including military crimes that have undermined the supremacy of international law. It calls on the U.S. government and the international community to refer the matter to the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights to take significant steps in investigating the military crimes committed by Azerbaijani soldiers under the orders of Ilham Aliyev.

The resolution urges the Biden administration to consider the possibility of imposing sanctions on Azerbaijan in response to the country's aggression and the war crimes perpetrated.