Washington (December 14, 2016) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on the crisis in Aleppo, Syria.

“The situation in Eastern Aleppo is an unspeakable humanitarian catastrophe that must end immediately. If Russia wants to have credibility, it must stand by its agreement with Turkey and rebel groups in Aleppo to stop the wanton bombing and killing and insist that Assad and Iranian-linked forces fighting for him let innocent families and rebels who agree to the cease fire evacuate the city. Now is the time for Russia to show that it is serious about working diplomatically with the United States, Turkey, the Gulf Arab states, and the international community to stop the killing in Aleppo and throughout Syria.

“It is imperative that all parties immediately agree to stop the slaughter, guarantee humanitarian relief to the victims of war, and protect both civilians and opposition fighters who abide by the ceasefire. The Assad regime and the opposition must engage in serious political negotiation over Syria’s future and plan for eventual free, fair, and internationally-supervised elections in which all Syrians, including those President Assad has driven out of the country, have the right to vote on Syria’s future government.”