Reps. Dina Titus and Chris Smith Lead Bipartisan Call to Sanction Azerbaijani Officials for War Crimes
— Thirty-six U.S. Representatives Ask Secretary of State Rubio to Ramp up Pressure on Azerbaijan to Release Armenian POWs and Hostages
WASHINGTON, DC – Thirty-six U.S. Representatives – led by Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Chris Smith (R-NJ) – have called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to impose Global Magnitsky sanctions on Azerbaijani officials responsible for grave human rights abuses against Armenians, including the illegal detention, abuse, and sham trials of Armenian prisoners of war and former Artsakh leaders. The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) welcomed the Congressional letter as a bipartisan step toward accountability and justice for the Armenian people of Artsakh.
“This bipartisan letter—led by Representatives Dina Titus and Chris Smith—sends a powerful message that America must stand on the side of justice and accountability,” stated ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We thank all the Members of Congress who signed this letter for demanding immediate Magnitsky sanctions against Azerbaijani officials involved in war crimes and the unlawful detention of Armenian political leaders and POWs. Durable peace in the region requires the release of all illegally detained Armenians, the withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces from Armenian territory, and, of course, support for the right of Artsakh Armenians to collectively return to their ancestral homes with dignity and security.”
The bipartisan letter urges the State Department to “immediately exercise your authority to impose sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act on Azerbaijani officials responsible for the perpetration of grave human rights abuses and war crimes against the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh.”
The signatories emphasized that “to this day, Azerbaijan continues to illegally detain at least 23 known Armenian prisoners of war captured during and following the blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh,” warning that “these political hostages, including former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, have been subject to abuse and degrading treatment in custody.”
They further stressed the broader regional implications of Azerbaijani impunity, writing: “The sham trials of high-profile Armenian figures undermine confidence-building measures necessary for a sustainable peace. Releasing political prisoners and prisoners of war is a critical step toward achieving a just and lasting resolution.”
The Members concluded with a call for immediate U.S. action: “We believe Magnitsky Sanctions are a critical tool to leverage the release of POWs and deter further aggression against Armenia.”
Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Chris Smith (R-NJ) were joined by thirty-four U.S. House Members in co-signing the letter to Secretary Rubio, including Representatives Gabe Amo (D-RI), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Don Beyer (D-VA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Danny Davis (D-IL), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Laura Friedman (D-CA), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Tom Kean (R-NJ), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), John Larson (D-CT), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Robert Menendez, Jr. (D-NJ), Grace Meng (D-NY), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Linda Sánchez (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Paul Tonko (D-NY), and David Valadao (R-CA).
Rep. Titus has been outspoken in calling for U.S. leadership in imposing sanctions on Azerbaijani officials for grave human rights abuses. In April 2024, she introduced the bipartisan Azerbaijan Sanctions Review Act of 2024 (H.R.8141) with Rep. Gus Bilirakis, requiring the Biden Administration to determine whether over 40 Azerbaijani officials should be sanctioned under the Global Magnitsky Act and Section 7031 of the State and Foreign Operations Act. At the time, Rep. Titus stated: “We cannot mince words when talking about what ensued: ethnic cleansing with genocidal intent… It’s time to impose costs on President Aliyev and his supporters for their actions instead of rewarding them with arms deals.”
Rep. Chris Smith – who authored the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act – has similarly championed justice for the Armenian people, introducing a resolution (H.Res.1327) in June 2024 with Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), condemning Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing of Artsakh and calling for the release of all Armenian political prisoners, and the safe return of displaced Armenians to their historic homeland. “The horrific atrocities and ethnic cleansing perpetrated by Azerbaijan…does not erase the Armenians’ right to live in their ancient homeland in peace and freedom,” stated Rep. Smith. As co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, Rep. Smith has used his platform to convene several hearings on the rights of Artsakh’s Armenians and the status of Armenian hostages and prisoners of war.
Photo Caption: A bipartisan group of 36 U.S. Representatives – led by Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) and Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) – have called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to impose Magnitsky sanctions on Azerbaijani officials in this latest bid to secure the release of Armenian POWs and hostages.
