Letter from the California Armenian Legislative Caucus Foundation to President Trump demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all Armenian prisoners of war and political detainees

April 11, 2025
The Honorable Donald J. Trump
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Sent Via Email and USPS
Dear Mr. President,
The California Armenian Legislative Caucus Foundation expresses grave concern regarding the ongoing illegal detention
of more than twenty Armenians in Baku, Azerbaijan. These 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.
We strongly urge you to: Demand the immediate and unconditional release of all Armenian prisoners of war and
political detainees.
Azerbaijan’s ongoing detention and abuse of Armenian prisoners of war is a part of a broader pattern of aggression
following 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.
Recently, White House National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, following a conversation with his Azerbaijani counterpart,
issued a statement on the conclusion of peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan calling for the release of Armenian
prisoners of war – an issue left unaddressed in the proposed peace agreement. This only underscores the urgent need for
you to act now.
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. Your leadership is critical in addressing this urgent humanitarian issue and ensuring
that the Armenian unlawfully detained individuals are released.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. If you have any questions, please contact Natalie Bruton-Yenovkian at
(916) 396-9738.
Sincerely,

John Harabedian Bob Archuleta Megan Dahle María Elena Durazo Caroline Menjivar
Chair, Assemblymember Senator Senator Senator Senator

Sasha Renée Pérez Laura Richardson Susan Rubio Robert Rivas Patrick Ahrens
Senator Senator Senator Speaker of Assembly Assemblymember

Juan Alanis Rebecca Bauer-Kahan Marc Berman Lisa Calderon Jessica Caloza
Assemblymember Assemblymember Assemblymember Assemblymember Assemblymember

Stan Ellis Robert Garcia Mike Gipson Jeff Gonzalez Mark Gonzalez
Assemblymember Assemblymember Assemblymember Assemblymember Assemblymember

Heather Hadwick Matt Haney Maggy Krell Tom Lackey Stephanie Nguyen
Assemblymember Assemblymember Assemblymember Assemblymember Assemblymember

Blanca Pacheco Cottie Petrie-Norris Celeste Rodriguez Michelle Rodriguez Chris Rogers
Assemblymember Assemblymember Assemblymember Assemblymember Assemblymember

Pilar Schiavo Nick Schultz Catherine Stefani Tri Ta David Tangipa
Assemblymember Assemblymember Assemblymember Assemblymember Assemblymember

Rick Chavez-Zbur
Assemblymember

9458 TREELAKE ROAD, GRANITE BAY, CA 95746 • PHONE: (916) 396-9738

THE CALIFORNIA ARMENIAN LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS FOUNDATION (ID# 47-3314636) IS AN INTERNAL REVENUE CODE 501(C)(3) EXEMPT

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