Washington, D.C. – Today Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV) released the following statement after introducing the Azerbaijan Sanctions Review Act of 2024. The bill is co-led by Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL).
 
“Nevada is home to over 40,000 Armenians and I am honored to represent half of the state’s diaspora in my district,” said Rep. Dina Titus. “Armenians are facing an ongoing ethnic cleansing and genocide at the hands of Azerbaijan which is why I have introduced the Azerbaijan Sanctions Review Act of 2024. This bill requires the Administration to conduct a review of forty-four Azerbaijani officials to determine whether they are subject to Magnitsky sanctions following the ethnic cleansing of Armenians from Artsakh and the violent repression of political opposition in Azerbaijan. 
 
Rep. Titus continued, “After its illegal, year-long blockade of the Lachin Corridor, Azerbaijan weaponized food and starved many of Artsakh’s 120,000 Armenians. The Aliyev government rejected calls from the international community to withdraw and ease tensions, but instead launched an assault on the Armenian community in Artsakh. We cannot mince words when talking about what ensued: ethnic cleansing with genocidal intent. People with long-standing claims to the land were systematically pushed out by an aggressor; children were denied food and water and are no longer able to go to school; and Christian landmarks were desecrated. It’s time to impose costs on President Aliyev and his supporters for their actions instead of rewarding them with arms deals. My bill is an important first step.”
 
“Given the political and humanitarian crisis that has resulted from Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing of Armenians from Artsakh and the continued oppression of political dissidents, careful consideration of whether or not Magnitsky sanctions are applicable are certainly warranted,” said Congressman Bilirakis, Co-Chair of the Congressional Armenian Caucus. “We have an obligation to speak up against political oppression around the globe and to give voice to those who are being oppressed.   
 
"The Armenian Legal Center welcomes the leadership of Congresswoman Titus on this critical bill calling for the Administration to take concrete action to hold senior Azerbaijani military, governmental and judicial officials accountable for war crimes and human rights abuses. The Global Magnitsky Act clearly applies to the over 40 individuals cited by the Congresswoman, and we collectively call upon the Departments of State and Treasury to impose sanctions as soon as possible to ensure Azerbaijan faces tangible costs for its genocide of Artsakh," said Ken Hachikian, Chair of the Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights.
 
“Congresswoman Titus has been and continues to be a steadfast Champion for human rights and for the Armenian-American people of Nevada in this courageous and powerful stance. The Nevada Armenian community and beyond are so proud of her leadership on this unprecedented and brave step to end the impunity of Azerbaijan for its genocidal policies, and to hold its officials accountable for human rights violations under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act,” said ANCA Nevada co-chair Lenna Hovanessian.
 
Background
 
In 2022, under the guise of environmental protests, Azerbaijan launched a blockade of the Lachin Corridor, the only viable pathway connecting Artsakh to the outside world. The year-long blockade prevented the 120,000 Armenians in Artsakh from receiving basic necessities like food, water, and medical supplies. The malicious intent of these actions was clear, and human rights organizations warned of the risk of genocide. 
 
This fear was realized in September 2023 when Azerbaijan launched an offensive against the Armenians in Artsakh and forcefully pushed them out of their homeland. Additionally, the Aliyev government in Azerbaijan consistently represses political opposition, stifles press freedom, and tortures prisoners of war. These concerning human rights transgressions require action to impose costs on the Azerbaijani regime.
 
The Azerbaijan Sanctions Review Act of 2024 requires the President to review whether Magnitsky sanctions are applicable to high-level Azerbaijani officials who carried out the ethnic cleansing of Armenians from Artsakh last year and who continue to enforce repressive policies toward political opposition within Azerbaijan.
 
An early version of the bill included language calling for the release of Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu, a prominent Azerbaijani American who taught at universities in the U.S. and was imprisoned for his outspoken opposition to the Aliyev government. This early bill draft reached the Azerbaijani government and within hours, Dr. Ibadoghlu was released from prison into house arrest. His case had been mentioned in the bill as emblematic of Azerbaijan’s disregard for due process. The threat of sanctions against the Azerbaijani government for violations of basic human rights has already resulted in change.
 
Rep. Dina Titus is a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and is a member of the Congressional Armenian Caucus. The Azerbaijan Sanctions Review Act of 2024 is supported by the Armenian National Committee of America, Armenian Assembly of America, Global ARM, Policy Forum Armenia, and Armenian Renaissance.
 
The full bill can be found HERE.