Washington (November 18, 2024) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ-06) held a media availability today upon returning from the 29th annual international climate change conference, COP29.
Last month, Senator Markey and Congressman Pallone led a letter to the State Department asking Secretary Antony Blinken to press for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, hostages, and prisoners of war, including ethnic Armenians, held by Azerbaijan’s government. In the letter, the lawmakers highlight Azerbaijan’s ongoing violations of international law and its inflammatory rhetoric toward Armenia. They also emphasized the importance of regional cooperation on clean energy and urged the U.S. to deepen its partnership with Armenia to reduce reliance on Russian energy.
“Earlier this year I expressed great concern that Azerbaijan, with its outsized dependence on state-sponsored fossil fuel production and its terrible human rights record, was selected as the host country for COP29,” said Senator Markey. “After attending COP29, I reiterate the need for the Azerbaijan government to rectify its human rights abuses, including attacks on civilians in Nagorno-Karabakh, unlawful detainment and killings, torture, and severe restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association. I will continue to call for Azerbaijan to immediately and unconditionally release all Armenian and Azeri political prisoners, guarantee the right of return for ethnic Armenian civilians to Nagorno-Karabakh, and negotiate in good faith, a peace agreement with Armenia that protects regional peace and internationally agreed borders.”
“It is outrageous and very telling that President Aliyev would try to silence members of the U.S. Congress and prevent critical discussions on human rights and justice for the Armenian people, even behind closed doors,” said Congressman Pallone. “Efforts to stifle myself and Senator Markey only strengthen my resolve to fight for accountability, reform, and the dignity of those who have suffered under Azerbaijan’s oppressive regime. I will continue to fight for the release of the Armenian prisoners being held in Baku, the protection of Armenian territorial sovereignty and removal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenian land, and for a fair and lasting peace deal that finally brings calm to the region.”
Senator Markey has long been a supporter of the Armenian diaspora in Massachusetts. In April 2024, Senator Markey joined his colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging the Department of State to prioritize the release of Armenian political leaders currently being held illegally by Azerbaijan as prisoners, including as a condition of any peace deal reached by Armenia and Azerbaijan in the aftermath of Azerbaijan’s military assault on Nagorno Karabakh in September 2023.
In February 2024, Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) introduced a bipartisan resolution to require that the Secretary of State provide a report on Azerbaijan’s human rights practices, including concerning allegations of human rights violations committed against ethnic Armenians, such as unlawful killings, torture, restrictions on freedom of movement, the illegal detention of political prisoners, and ethnic cleansing.
In September 2022, Senator Markey and his colleagues led a letter calling for the U.S. to cease any security assistance to Azerbaijan until Armenia and Azerbaijan reach a permanent resolution that would ensure peace and stability in Nagorno-Karabakh. In November 2020, Senator Markey, then-a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed his concern about the Russian-brokered agreement signed between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia to end the fighting in Nagorno Karabakh and surrounding areas. In October 2020, he urged then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to seek an immediate ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan while pushing for a negotiated resolution to the conflict over Nagorno Karabakh.
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