Senators Urge Trump Administration to Press for the Release of Armenian Hostages; Address Azerbaijan’s Ongoing Abuses Against Armenians
Washington, D.C. — Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) have mobilized their Senate colleagues in a formal appeal to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging the United States to demand the unconditional release of all Armenian political prisoners and prisoners of war held by Azerbaijan, and to impose Global Magnitsky sanctions on Azerbaijani officials responsible for human rights violations and abuses against Armenian detainees. The senators warn that for two years Azerbaijan has carried out what international legal experts identify as a campaign of ethnic cleansing, and that continued U.S. inaction risks enabling further atrocities.
In their letter, the lawmakers recount how Azerbaijan’s blockade and its September 2023 military assault forced 120,000 Christian Armenians from their ancestral homeland in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), marking the peak of a broader pattern of aggression dating back to the 2020 war. They cite extensive evidence of war crimes, including the summary execution of civilians, the destruction of homes, schools, and hospitals, and the deliberate targeting of Armenian churches and cultural heritage sites. The senators also highlight Azerbaijan’s arbitrary detention of dozens of Armenian prisoners of war during and after the blockade.
The letter states that at least 23 Armenian prisoners of war remain illegally imprisoned in Azerbaijan today. Rather than releasing them, Azerbaijani authorities have initiated politically motivated show trials aimed at punishing detainees solely for their Armenian identity. Among the captives are former presidents, foreign ministers, and parliamentary leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh.
While the lawmakers express cautious hope that recent negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan may usher in a more peaceful future for the region, they warn that “Azerbaijan’s ongoing hostage diplomacy and unreasonable preconditions jeopardize that progress.”
The initiative has drawn broad support across the Democratic caucus and Senate Independents. Cosigners include Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Chris Van Hollen, Jack Reed, Adam Schiff, Elizabeth Warren, Ruben Gallego, Gary Peters, Alex Padilla, Raphael Warnock, Cory Booker, Michael Bennet, Catherine Cortez Masto, Andy Kim, Tammy Baldwin, Chris Coons, Peter Welch, Elissa Slotkin, Bernie Sanders, Angela Alsobrooks, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Richard Blumenthal, Jacky Rosen, Tammy Duckworth, Martin Heinrich, and John Fetterman.
The Armenian Council of America (ACA) welcomes the Senate initiative and commends Senator Markey for his long-standing commitment to defending the rights and dignity of Armenians. ACA emphasizes that the Senate’s action reflects a growing recognition that accountability is essential for any lasting peace in the region and urges the Trump administration to act swiftly on the recommendations outlined in the letter, stressing that U.S. leadership remains crucial to securing the release of Armenian prisoners still held in Azerbaijan and preventing further abuses.
