87 U.S. Legislators Press Trump-Vance Administration to Ensure Safe Return of Armenians to Artsakh

“This bipartisan Congressional letter sends the Administration a clear message: Any path to real regional peace needs to start with the collective, protected return of Armenians to Artsakh – certainly not the normalization of Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing of indigenous Christians from their ancient homeland,” stated ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “Armenian American voters and our many allies are grateful to the Armenian Caucus leadership and every Member of Congress who stood up today for peace and justice – a message backed by international law and rooted in human rights.”

In their letter, led by Congressional Armenian Caucus co-chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Brad Sherman (D-CA), and David Valadao (R-CA), lawmakers emphasized: “We urge you to engage all parties in this unresolved conflict to ensure the collective, protected, and dignified return of forcibly displaced Armenians to their indigenous homeland of Nagorno Karabakh. Taking this action is in direct accordance with international law and in pursuit of a just and lasting peace in the region.”

The letter documents the consequences of Azerbaijan’s 2023 blockade and military assault on Artsakh, which “forcibly displaced the region’s entire Christian Armenian population of 120,000 people.” It further details how, following the assault, Azerbaijan “engaged in the systematic destruction of Christian Armenian cultural heritage sites,” and conducted “the widespread ransacking and demolition of civilian property, and public infrastructure, in an attempt to deny the possibility of return to the region.”

Citing international precedents, the letter states: “The right of populations displaced by war to return to their homes is a fundamental principle of international law.” It also references a 2023 International Court of Justice order compelling Azerbaijan to ensure the safe and secure return of Artsakh’s Armenian population.

The letter specifically urges the Administration to support the Swiss Peace Initiative for Nagorno-Karabakh, a diplomatic measure adopted by the Swiss Parliament to “establish an international negotiation platform to mediate a safe, secure and internationally guaranteed return of Armenians to Nagorno-Karabakh.”

The Swiss initiative was prominently discussed during a standing-room-only Congressional briefing on July 10th, which brought together over 200 Capitol Hill staffers, human rights advocates, and policy experts. The event featured remarks from Swiss Parliamentarians Erich Vontobel and Lukas Reimann, Christian Solidarity International President Dr. John Eibner, and former Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian. Mark Milosch, Republican Staff Director for Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), the Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission opened the event and ANCA Policy Director Alex Galitsky moderated a robust question and answer session.

Over the past month, Armenian American advocates and supporters sent more than 40,000 emails and calls, through ANCA national, regional, and local platforms, urging legislators to co-sign the letter. Additionally, ANCA’s Leo Sarkisian and Maral Melkonian Avetisyan summer interns visited over 400 Congressional offices on a weekly basis, providing fact sheets and making the case for a U.S.-backed right of return policy for Artsakh genocide survivors.

In the letter, lawmakers also reaffirmed past U.S. commitments, citing testimony from Assistant Secretary of State Jim O’Brien, who stated: the U.S. had “urged Azerbaijan to ensure all ethnic Armenians who have departed Nagorno Karabakh are guaranteed a safe, dignified, and sustainable return, should they so choose, with their rights and security guaranteed.”

The Congressional letter concluded with a strong appeal: “We look forward to your response, and to the opportunity to work with you to promote a just, durable and dignified peace in the region that ensures the fundamental rights of displaced Armenians to return to their indigenous homeland without fear of renewed violence and persecution.”