Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Introduces Resolution Calling for Immediate Release of Armenian Prisoners of War Held by Azerbaijan

WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman David G. Valadao and fellow co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, U.S. Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and Jackie Speier (D-CA), introduced a resolution calling for the immediate release of all prisoners of war and captured civilians held by Azerbaijan as ordered in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh peace agreement.

On September 27, 2020, Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Artsakh, faced attacks from Azerbaijani forces in violation of their decades-old ceasefire agreement. This unprovoked aggression led to six weeks of violent and devastating combat. While a peace agreement was reached on November 9, which led to the release of Azeri prisoners of war held by Armenia, Azerbaijan has not yet released all Armenian prisoners of war.

“Reports of inhumane treatment of these prisoners, as well as misrepresentation by Azerbaijani authorities to justify their continued capture, makes clear this is an issue of both human rights and international law,” said Congressman Valadao. “I wholeheartedly condemn Azerbaijan for their failure to uphold the November 9 agreement, and I implore them to return all Armenian captives immediately.”

In February, Congressman Valadao signed a letter to President Biden outlining several key issues Armenians are facing, urging US leadership to pressure Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners of war. As co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, Congressman Valadao works to bring awareness to the issues important to the Armenian people and advocate on their behalf in Congress.

Read the resolution here.

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