US senators have introduced a resolution on Azerbaijan's human rights situation and a review of US assistance

US Senators Ed Markey and Bill Cassidy introduced a resolution demanding a report on the human rights situation in Azerbaijan.

This was reported by the Armenian Committee of the USA.

Senators have introduced a bipartisan resolution requesting a report on Azerbaijan's human rights record under Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act (Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act allows Congress to request information on a country's human rights record and to change or terminate US security assistance to that country in light of information received).

The resolution requests information from the State Department on Azerbaijan's human rights violations both domestically and during its ongoing military offensive against Nagorno-Karabakh, which has resulted in ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population. Senators Marco Rubio, Gary Peters, Elizabeth Warren, Sheldon Whitehouse, Bob Menendez and Peter Welch joined the resolution.

Senator Markey emphasized that the need to hold the Azerbaijani government accountable is long overdue.

"Military operations have never been a solution to peace and stability in Nagorno-Karabakh. This resolution puts pressure on the government of Azerbaijan to protect human rights and stop crimes against ethnic Armenians in the region. We must protect the will, rights and fundamental freedoms of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh," Marki said.

Senator Cassidy mentioned the destruction of shrines by Azerbaijan.

The senators' resolution would require the State Department to provide detailed information on human rights violations committed by Azerbaijan, including arbitrary killings, torture of prisoners, deportation of ethnic Armenians from Nagorno Karabakh, and destruction of religious and cultural sites.

Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act is a long-standing but unused law that prohibits US security assistance to any country whose government commits gross violations of internationally recognized human rights. If passed by both senators, this resolution would be the first time Congress has required a report under section 502B(c) since 1976.

The US Armenian Caucus has launched a nationwide campaign calling on senators to work towards passing the legislation.