Costa, Schiff Introduces Resolution Demanding Information on Azerbaijan’s Human Rights Practices

WASHINGTON – On the third anniversary of the six-seek war in Artsakh, U.S. Representatives Jim Costa (CA-21), Adam Schiff (CA-30), and Frank Pallone (NJ-06) introduced a resolution to require the U.S. Department of State to examine and report on Azerbaijan’s human rights practices, including its aggression and attacks on Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and Armenia.

“Azerbaijan’s ongoing attacks on Armenians in Artsakh are unacceptable. These attacks along with the blockade of the Lachin Corridor make it clear that the United States must end military assistance to Azerbaijan now,” saidRep. Costa. 

“Providing U.S. assistance to a government that is actively engaged in ethnic cleansing or genocide is contrary to our values as Americans. In light of Azerbaijan’s horrific aggression, including its September 19 unprovoked military attack on Artsakh, my resolution provides a much-needed path to quickly cut off aid to Azerbaijan,” saidRep. Schiff. “We cannot speak out for human rights while providing assistance that can be used to further Azerbaijan’s war and commission of war crimes. I look forward to the passage of my resolution in order to shine a light on Azerbaijan’s human rights abuses and allow Congress to exercise its role in ensuring U.S. foreign assistance is aligned with U.S. values and interests.”

This resolution draws upon Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act, which allows Congress to request information on a particular country’s human rights practices from the State Department. Schiff’s resolution would give the U.S. State Department 30 days to provide Congress with a report on Azerbaijan’s human rights record, including information about the observance of human rights in Azerbaijan, steps the United States has taken to promote respect for human rights there, and whether the Secretary of State believes extraordinary circumstances exist that necessitate a continuation of security assistance for Azerbaijan. 

The report the bill requires from the State Department would also include information requested about the impact of U.S. assistance on the power balance and prospects for peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, an assessment of whether ethnic cleansing or acts of genocide are taking place in Artsakh, and the status of sanctions to hold accountable Azerbaijani officials responsible for gross violations of human rights. If the State Department is not able to provide a report within 30 days, security assistance to Azerbaijan would be automatically suspended. 

The full text of the resolution can be found here.