Saturday, April 27 2024 15:03

ArmInfo. Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced bipartisan  legislation that seeks to enforce sanctions against Azerbaijani officials responsible for war crimes and human rights abuses, including the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh, the arbitrary detention of  Armenian POWs and civilian captives, the torture and abuse of  detainees, and extrajudicial killings, reported the Armenian National  Committee of America (ANCA).

Specifically, "The Azerbaijan Sanctions Review Act of 2024" would  require the Biden Administration to report within 180 days of passage  the applicability of sanctions on Azerbaijani officials responsible  for human rights violations, based on the Global Magnitsky Human  Rights Accountability Act and Section 7031 of the State, Foreign  Operations and Related Programs Act.

Rep. Titus explained, "Armenians are facing an ongoing ethnic  cleansing and genocide at the hands of Azerbaijan, which is why I  have introduced the Azerbaijan Sanctions Review Act of 2024. After  its illegal, year-long blockade of the Lachin Corridor, Azerbaijan  weaponized food and starved many of Artsakh's 120,000 Armenians. The  Aliyev government rejected calls from the international community to  withdraw and ease tensions but instead launched an assault on the  Armenian community in Artsakh."

Rep. Titus continued, "We cannot mince words when talking about what  ensued: ethnic cleansing with genocidal intent. People with  long-standing claims to the land were systematically pushed out by an  aggressor; children were denied food and water and are no longer able  to go to school; and Christian landmarks were desecrated. It's time  to impose costs on President Aliyev and his supporters for their  actions instead of rewarding them with arms deals. My bill is an  important first step."

Rep. Bilirakis concurred, "Given the political and humanitarian  crisis that has resulted from Azerbaijan's ethnic cleansing of  Armenians from Artsakh and the continued oppression of political  dissidents, careful consideration of whether or not Magnitsky  sanctions are applicable are certainly warranted. We have an  obligation to speak up against political oppression around the globe  and to give voice to those who are being oppressed."

ANCA Western Region Board Member and ANCA Nevada Chair Lenna  Hovanessian, JD, welcomed Rep.  Titus' leadership. "Rep. Titus has  been and continues to be a steadfast champion for human rights and  for the Armenian-American people of Nevada in this courageous and  powerful stance. The Nevada Armenian community and beyond are so  proud of her leadership on this unprecedented and brave step to end  the impunity of Azerbaijan for its genocidal policies and to hold its  officials accountable for human rights violations under the Global  Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act."

Congresswoman Titus announced her intention to pursue sanctions  against Azerbaijani officials during her remarks at the Congressional  Armenian Genocide Commemoration on Capitol Hill, noting that "this  bill will impose various sanctions on Azerbaijani officials who  directed or carried out the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh." The  Congresswoman continued, "it is time we make them pay, and impose  costs on them for their actions."

In addition to Representatives Titus and Bilirakis, the original  cosponsors of the bill are Representatives Gabe Amo (D-RI), Jake  Auchincloss (D-MA), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Tony Cardenas (D-CA), Jim  Costa (D-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Mike  Lawler (R-NY), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Susie Lee (D-NV), Nicole  Malliotakis (R-NY), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Rob Menendez (D-NJ), Grace  Meng (D-NY), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Chris Pappas (D-NH), John Sarbanes  (D-MD), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Brad Sherman  (D-CA), Haley Stevens (D-MI), and David Valadao (R-CA).

The bill refers to two sanctions mechanisms. The Global Magnitsky Act  authorizes the President to impose economic sanctions and deny entry  into the United States to any foreign person identified as engaging  in human rights abuse or corruption. Section 7031 of the State,  Foreign Operations and Related Programs Act requires the Secretary of  State to make foreign officials and their family members ineligible  for U.S. entry if there is evidence that such individuals have been  involved in significant corruption or a gross violation of human  rights.

"Azerbaijan must be held accountable for the genocide of Artsakh,  facing material consequences for its brazen violations of  international law," remarked ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.  "For decades, the U.S. has refused to impose meaningful costs on  Azerbaijan for its aggression against the Armenians of Artsakh -  enabling its genocidal behavior and emboldening its leaders to  believe that they can act with impunity. This bipartisan bill  represents an important step toward accountability and justice.  Its  passage is needed to deter further Azerbaijani aggression in the  region."

The list of over 40 Azerbaijani officials named in the bill was  compiled by the Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights  (Armenian Legal Center) in collaboration with its partners at the  International Comparative Law Center (ICLC) in Yerevan.  The ICLC  verified the complicity of the named individuals in the perpetration  of serious violations of international humanitarian law.

"The Armenian Legal Center welcomes the leadership of Congresswoman  Titus on this critical bill calling for the Administration to take  concrete action to hold senior Azerbaijani military, governmental,  and judicial officials accountable for war crimes and human rights  abuses," said Armenian Legal Center Chair Ken Hachikian. "The Global  Magnitsky Act clearly applies to the over 40 individuals cited by the  Congresswoman, and we collectively call upon the Departments of State  and Treasury to impose sanctions as soon as possible to ensure  Azerbaijan faces tangible costs for its genocide of Artsakh."

The list includes senior officials in Azerbaijan's ministries of  justice and defense, military officials, and specific units  responsible for overseeing and carrying out war crimes, as well as  judges and lawyers responsible for the arbitrary detention of  captives. The Armenian Legal Center is set to file comprehensive  reports on each of these cases with the Departments of State and  Treasury to trigger a formal assessment of the applicability of  Global Magnitsky Act Sanctions against Azerbaijani officials.

The bill also highlights the over 90 Armenian prisoners of war and  civilian captives illegally detained by Azerbaijan during the 2020  Nagorno-Karabakh War who have faced torture and abuse - and names  Artsakh's political leadership illegally captured by Azerbaijan  during its genocidal assault on the region in September 2023  including Ruben Vardanyan, Davit Manukyan, Davit Babayan, Levon  Mnatsakanyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Arayik Harutyunyan,  and Davit Ishkhanyan.