The Armenian American Committee supports 6 initiatives of the US House of Representatives aimed at protecting the security of Armenia and holding Azerbaijan accountable.

Armenian American Association (ANCA) supports US House of Representatives initiatives to protect Armenia’s security and hold Azerbaijan accountable

Amendments demand release of Armenian hostages held in Azerbaijan ahead of 1000th day of captivity

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Armenian American Committee (ANCA) supports FY 2027 six pro-Armenian amendments to national security legislation, which require the release of Armenian hostages and prisoners of war illegally held by Azerbaijan, the withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from the sovereign territory of Armenia, the protection of the cultural and religious heritage of Artsakh, as well as the safe return of forcibly displaced Artsakh Armenians to their homes.

The authors of the initiatives are the co-chairs of the Congressional Committee on Armenian Affairs, Frank Fallon (Democrat, New Jersey) and Gus Bilirakis (Republican, Florida), the vice-chairman of the committee, Brad Sherman (Democrat, California), as well as congressmen Gabe Ammon (Democrat, Rhode Island) and Jim Costa (Democrat, California). These initiatives are presented in the conditions when the leaders of Artsakh and other Armenian hostages will complete the 1000th day of illegal detention in Azerbaijani prisons on June 23.

Four of the amendments relate to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027 (HR 8800), and two relate to the National Security, State Department, and Related Programs Appropriations Act of 2027 (HR 8595). They are aimed at limiting American military support to Azerbaijan, strengthening Armenia’s security, and ensuring concrete accountability for Baku’s ongoing violations of Armenia’s sovereignty and human rights. Additional changes may be introduced in the coming days.

“A thousand days. A thousand long days and darker nights since Azerbaijan illegally captured Armenian hostages, innocent people, Armenian patriots, whom Baku continues to hold in gross violation of international law and basic human morality,” ANCA Executive Director Aram Hambaryan stated. “These changes send a clear message. The Congress is not going to subsidize the violence, aggression, desecration and occupation of Azerbaijan with the funds of American taxpayers. Not under our supervision.

Congressman Pallon’s proposed amendment HR 8800 imposes strict conditions on the President’s authority to override Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. That article limits American aid to Azerbaijan. Under the proposed amendment, any future exemption would only be possible if the president assures that Azerbaijan has taken visible and verifiable steps to release all remaining Armenian prisoners of war and civilian prisoners, withdraw its troops from the sovereign territory of Armenia, protect the Armenian Christian cultural heritage of Artsakh, and stop the destruction of Armenian property in formerly Armenian-populated areas.

Congressman Billirakis’ change is based on the “Armenia-US Security Partnership Act” (HR 6840) and requires the US Secretary of Defense to certify annually that Azerbaijan has taken real steps to fulfill the obligations assumed in the joint declaration, to withdraw all troops from the territory of Armenia, to release all Armenian prisoners unconditionally, to stop hostile actions against Armenia and to recognize the right of return of Armenians displaced from Artsakh. If it is not possible to present such a certificate, it is planned to immediately review the security support provided to Armenia, assessing the gaps in Armenia’s deterrence and self-defense capabilities, as well as prohibiting the circumvention of Article 907 by the president.

Congressman Amo’s change Prohibits the use of funds under HR 8800 to provide security assistance to Azerbaijan, under section 333 of title 10, USC, until the Secretary of Defense, in conjunction with the Secretary of State, certifies that Azerbaijan has met the same standards of accountability by maintaining peace commitments, withdrawing troops from Armenian territory, unconditionally releasing all Armenian prisoners of war and civilian prisoners, and ceasing the use or threat of force against Armenia. politics, recognized the right of return of forcibly displaced Armenians and committed to protect the monuments of Artsakh’s Armenian cultural, religious and historical heritage.

Congressman Sherman’s amendment, introduced in HR 8800, expresses the position of Congress that Azerbaijan should immediately and unconditionally release all Armenian prisoners of war and political prisoners, and that the United States should use all appropriate diplomatic, economic, and legal measures, including the full enforcement of Section 907 and the possible application of Global Magnitsky sanctions, to secure their release.

Congressman Jim Costa HR 8595 presented two amendments to the draft, which refer to the human rights situation in Azerbaijan and the systematic destruction of Armenian heritage. The First Amendment prohibits Azerbaijan from providing any funding under American military or security assistance programs until the president assures that Azerbaijan has taken visible steps toward the unconditional release of all Armenian detainees, the immediate withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from the sovereign territory of Armenia, the protection of Artsakh’s Armenian cultural and civil property, and recognition of the right of return of forcibly displaced Armenians.

The second change obliges the Minister of Defense, together with the Secretary of State, to submit a report to the Congress within 180 days regarding the damage, destruction and ongoing threats to the monuments of the Armenian Christian religious, cultural and historical heritage of Artsakh. The report should include documented cases of destruction of churches, monasteries, cemeteries, and other cultural monuments, actions taken by Azerbaijan to alter or eliminate their historical identity, and recommendations for U.S. policy to preserve, monitor, and protect them.

The Rules Committee of the House of Representatives will begin discussing the proposed amendments in the coming weeks. The amendments that will be accepted for discussion will be put to the vote of the entire House of Representatives, individually or in a package (“en bloc”) format. The Armenian American Committee calls on members of Congress to join these initiatives before the Rules Committee debates.

In the photo. Congressional Armenian Affairs Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Fallon and Gus Bilirakis, Caucus Vice-Chairman Brad Sherman, as well as Congressmen Gabe Amo and Jim Costa are pushing for pro-Armenian changes in the fiscal year 2027 national security legislation.

Armenian American Association (ANCA)