ACA Applauds Bipartisan Congressional Call to Withhold Military Assistance to Azerbaijan

101 Members of Congress Urge Secretary Rubio to Press for Armenian Hostages’ Release, Azerbaijani Withdrawal from Sovereign Armenian Territory, and Accountability Under the FREEDOM Support Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Armenian Council of America (ACA) applauds a bipartisan, bicameral coalition of 101 Members of Congress for calling on U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Trump Administration to hold Azerbaijan accountable for its continued detention of Armenian prisoners of war, ongoing military occupation of sovereign Armenian territory, and actions that threaten the prospects for lasting peace in the South Caucasus.

The October 5 letter, spearheaded by Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), garnered the support of 26 U.S. Senators and 75 House Members, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). The broad bipartisan and bicameral coalition underscores growing congressional concern over Azerbaijan’s conduct and the continued waiver of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, which restricts U.S. assistance to the government of Azerbaijan.

Recognizing the Trump Administration’s efforts to advance peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the lawmakers expressed serious concerns that Azerbaijan’s actions continue to undermine progress toward a durable settlement.

“As Azerbaijan’s conduct threatens to compromise the integrity of the peace process, we note with concern the recent decision to reauthorize the waiver of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act,” the lawmakers wrote. “Despite the issuance of the waiver, we urge your administration to withhold U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan if they continue to jeopardize the success of negotiations.”

The letter highlights Azerbaijan’s February 2026 sentencing of 16 Armenian detainees to prison terms ranging from 15 years to life, following proceedings widely condemned by international human rights organizations and legal experts. Among those imprisoned are former political and military leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh, detained following Azerbaijan’s September 2023 military offensive that forcibly displaced more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians from their ancestral homeland.

The lawmakers also drew attention to Azerbaijan’s continued military presence within Armenia’s internationally recognized borders. They cited an estimated 241.4 square kilometers of Armenian territory remaining under Azerbaijani occupation following military incursions in 2021 and 2022, warning that this creates an imbalance in ongoing border delimitation negotiations.

“The continued waiver of Section 907 without a commitment to addressing these concerns will only further encourage destabilizing actions,” the lawmakers warned.

The letter calls on the Administration to use existing U.S. leverage to secure the release of Armenian detainees, encourage the withdrawal of Azerbaijani military forces from sovereign Armenian territory, and ensure that negotiations respect Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“Lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan requires the release of Armenian prisoners of war and the withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces from Armenian territory,” said Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL). “Senator Peters and I are urging the Administration to use its existing leverage to secure these outcomes and support border delimitation talks that respect Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. If Azerbaijan remains uncooperative, the United States should enforce Section 907 restrictions on assistance. Our commitment to peace must be backed by meaningful action and accountability.”

ACA Board Chairman Sevak Khatchadorian praised the congressional coalition for delivering a clear message that American support for peace must be backed by strong accountability measures.

“We commend Senator Peters, Congressman Bilirakis, and the over 100 Senators and Representatives who signed this important, bipartisan and straightforward letter to Secretary Rubio,” said Sevak Khatchadorian, Chairman of the Armenian Council of America. “Either you are committed to peace or you’re not, and Azerbaijan’s actions are clear. Congress has always played a vital role in advancing America’s interests and upholding human rights around the globe. The prospect of a true and lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan requires it and we’re grateful for their leadership.”

The Armenian Council of America urges the Administration to heed this bipartisan congressional appeal and make clear that continued U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan cannot be divorced from its obligations to release Armenian hostages, respect Armenia’s internationally recognized borders, and demonstrate a genuine commitment to lasting peace.

As the lawmakers conclude in their letter, “If meaningful steps are not taken, we urge your administration to withhold U.S. military assistance in order to demonstrate the United States’ commitment to ensuring all parties take the peace process seriously.”

Below is a list of signatories in alphabetical order:

U.S. Senate (26)

Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

U.S. House of Representatives (75)

Gabe Amo (D-RI), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Wesley Bell (D-MO), Don Beyer (D-VA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Mike Carey (R-OH), André Carson (D-IN), Greg Casar (D-TX), Judy Chu (D-CA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Jim Costa (D-CA), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), Vince Fong (R-CA), Valerie Foushee (D-NC), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Laura Friedman (D-CA), Robert Garcia (D-CA), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL), Laura Gillen (D-NY), Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Young Kim (R-CA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), George Latimer (D-NY), John Larson (D-CT), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Susie Lee (D-NV), Sam Liccardo (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Mike Levin (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Sarah McBride (D-DE), James McGovern (D-MA), Rob Menendez (D-NJ), Grace Meng (D-NY), Dave Min (D-CA), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Luz Rivas (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), David Taylor (R-OH), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Dina Titus (D-NV), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Lori Trahan (D-MA), David Valadao (R-CA), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), and George Whitesides (D-CA).