Representatives Schiff and Pallone Statements on the One-Year Anniversary of the Six-Week War in Nagorno-Karabakh

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) issued the following statement on the one-year anniversary of the six-week war in Nagorno-Karabakh:

“One year ago today, an autocrat facing domestic discontent chose to provoke war with a peaceful neighbor. Over 44 days, Azerbaijani forces targeted and murdered many innocent civilians in Artsakh, and displaced tens of thousands more. The war created a mass humanitarian disaster and robbed countless ethnic Armenian families at home and abroad of their fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters.

“Despite a ceasefire agreement, Azerbaijani aggression against the people of Artsakh and Armenia continues. Dozens of Armenian soldiers remain illegally detained and subject to torture, while thousands of innocent civilians still live in danger due to the continued and unprovoked threats in Nagorno-Karabakh.

“Now more than ever, we must recommit ourselves to doing everything possible to bring liberation and peace to the region. We must continue to demand Azerbaijan immediately and unconditionally return all prisoners of war and captured civilians. We must continue to urge the Biden administration to withhold U.S. assistance from the Aliyev regime and to reinvigorate the peace process. And we must further strengthen and support democracy in Armenia and a free, independent Artsakh.

“I will always stand with the people of Armenia and Artsakh.”

Rep. Pallone:  Will Continue to Push For Aliyev And Erdogan to Be Held Accountable For Deadly Actions

Congressman Frank Pallone pledges to continue to push for Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to be held accountable for their deadly actions.

“Today marks the one-year anniversary of Azerbaijan and Turkey’s unprovoked attack on Artsakh. The world witnessed deadly targeting of civilians and gruesome human rights abuses during the six-week war that followed,” Rep. Pallone said in a Twitter post.

“World leaders refused to use diplomatic tools to halt the bloodshed, including targeted sanctions against Aliyev and Erdogan. One year later, these actions remain necessary to prevent further destabilizing efforts and ensure the return of Armenians currently in Azeri custody,” he added.

“I will continue to push for Alieyev and Erdogan to be held accountable for their deadly actions. I will also continue pushing for meaningful U.S. aid to Artsakh that will help its people rebuild their homeland,” the Congressman said.