U.S. House committee calls for immediate release of Armenians unlawfully held in Baku

The U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs has called on Azerbaijan to immediately and unconditionally release the Armenians unlawfully held in Baku.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) reported the development.

The measure, introduced by Rep. Brad Sherman (D-California), Vice Chair of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, with the support of Committee Chairman Rep. Brian Mast (R-Florida), was approved by a vote of 44 to 7.

The proposal was first considered by the committee on June 10 and was put to a vote on July 22.

"The House Foreign Affairs Committee voted 44-7 in favor of my amendment calling on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners of war and political prisoners. I am proud to have officially put Congress on record on this issue, and I will continue fighting for the release of Armenians who are being illegally and unjustly detained by Azerbaijan and subjected to torture and abuse," Sherman said.

Azerbaijan continues to unlawfully detain 19 Armenians, including former military and political leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh. They have been sentenced to prison following trials conducted on the basis of what Armenia describes as fabricated criminal charges brought against them in Azerbaijan.

In particular, former Nagorno-Karabakh President Arayik Harutyunyan, former Foreign Minister Davit Babayan, former Commander of the Defense Army Levon Mnatsakanyan, former Deputy Commander of the Defense Army Davit Manukyan, and former Speaker of the National Assembly Davit Ishkhanyan have been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Former Nagorno-Karabakh presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan, as well as former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, have been sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment. Madat Babayan and Melikset Pashayan have each been sentenced to 19 years' imprisonment. Davit Allahverdyan has been sentenced to 16 years' imprisonment, while Erik Ghazaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan, and Vasili Beglaryan have each been sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment, and Garik Martirosyan has been sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment.