Calif. Armenian Legislative Caucus Calls on Trump to Take Action on Armenian Prisoners Held in Baku

The California Armenian Legislative Caucus Foundation sent a letter to President Donald Trump on Monday calling on his administration to take decisive action to secure the release of Armenians being held captive in Azerbaijan.

The letter also called on the Trump Administration to secure the withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces from sovereign Armenian territory, ensure the right of return for ethnic Armenians to their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh and commit to the preservation of Armenian cultural and religious sites in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Below is the complete text of the letter.

April 20, 2026

The Honorable Donald J. Trump
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

The California Armenian Legislative Caucus Foundation expresses grave concern regarding the ongoing illegal detention of Armenians in Baku, Azerbaijan and the unaddressed needs of more than 100,000 forcibly displaced refugees from Artsakh. While we thank the President for his efforts in the “Joint Declaration” of peaceful interstate relations in August 2025, Azerbaijan continues to hold Armenian civilians, soldiers, and former leaders of Artsakh captive, and occupy sovereign Armenian territory to this very day.

Detainees include prisoners of war, civilians, former Nagorno Karabakh officials such as Presidents, State Ministers, and the Speaker of the Assembly who have been held under fabricated charges and subjected to unfair mock trials and inhumane treatment in direct violation of international human rights laws. Refugees include women, children, families and the elderly. We commend the President’s plans for the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP) connectivity project in the territory of the Republic of Armenia and acknowledge it cannot be completed without establishing peace in the region once and for all.

We strongly urge you to:

• Call for the release of all Armenian POWs political prisoners, and hostages held by Azerbaijan
• Secure the withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces from sovereign Armenian territory
• Ensure the right of return for ethnic Armenians to their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh
• Commit to the preservation of Armenian cultural and religious sites in Nagorno-Karabakh
• Ensure the sovereignty and security of the world’s first Christian nation and key democratic ally in the region

As you are aware, Azerbaijan’s ongoing detention and abuse of Armenian prisoners of war is a part of a broader pattern of aggression perpetuated after the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War. During and after the conflict, Azerbaijan perpetrated egregious war crimes including execution of civilians, destruction of schools, homes, and hospitals, deliberate targeting of churches and other Armenian Christian heritage sites, and the arbitrary detention and mistreatment of dozens of Armenian prisoners of war.

The California Armenian Legislative Caucus Foundation calls on your leadership in addressing this urgent humanitarian issue and ensuring that the Armenian unlawfully detained individuals are released and that refugees from Artsakh can return to their homes safely and rebuild their lives in peace. The protection of human rights and the dignity of all people are fundamental to the American values and foundational to the international rules-based order.

As California serves as the largest number of Armenian Americans in the United States, these atrocities resonate deeply, recalling what ancestors endured over a century ago as a result of the Armenian Genocide in 1915-1923. We acknowledge the suffering of the Armenian Genocide to reaffirm our collective commitment to stand against future ethnic cleansings and genocides and request that you do the same.

On April 20th of this year the California State Senate and California State Assembly are hosting floor sessions in remembrance of the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Genocide is a valid definition of the mass-killings and deportations of Armenians. We hope that you will join us in using the word “genocide” to provide historical justice.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. If you have any questions, please contact Natalie Bruton-Yenovkian at (916) 396-9738.

Sincerely,
Chair, Assemblymember John Harabedian, Senators Bob Archuleta, Megan Dahle, Maria Elena Durazo, Sasha Renée Pérez, Suzette Martinez Valladares, Assemblymembers Patrick Ahrens, Juan Alanis, Marc Berman, Lisa Calderon, Jessica Caloza, Damon Connolly, Robert Garcia, Jeff Gonzalez, Heather Hadwick, Maggy Krell, Diane Papan, Celeste Rodriguez, Michelle Rodriguez, Chris Rogers, Pilar Schiavo, Nick Schultz, José Luis Solache, Catherine Stefani, David Tangipa and Rick Chavez Zbur.