An important hearing hosted by the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission will take place in Washington, D.C. The session will be live-streamed on The Armenian Report’s YouTube Channel. This important hearing will focus on the human rights abuses by the government of Azerbaijan, particularly in the wake of the recent conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The hearing will scrutinize several critical issues related to human rights violations in Azerbaijan, especially those impacting ethnic Armenians since the fall of Nagorno-Karabakh. Following Azerbaijan’s military operation in September 2023, which led to its full occupation over Nagorno-Karabakh, a dramatic shift has occurred. By the end of the year, virtually all ethnic Armenians had forcibly fled the region and sought refuge in Armenia.

The hearing will address claims of ethnic cleansing and its repercussions, including the treatment of prisoners of war and political prisoners. It will also review the status of Armenian cultural sites within Nagorno-Karabakh and the right of return for ethnic Armenians who were displaced.

In addition to examining the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, the hearing will also explore the treatment of ethnic Azerbaijanis who oppose the government. Witnesses will discuss how these individuals have faced domestic and transnational repression due to their dissent against the Azerbaijani government.

The session will also investigate the correlation between corruption within Azerbaijan’s government and human rights abuses. According to Freedom House, power in Azerbaijan remains tightly controlled by President Ilham Aliyev and his family, with widespread corruption and a severe crackdown on civil liberties.

A delegation of eight (8) individuals from Armenia is currently in Washington D.C. for the Lantos hearing. The Center for Truth and Justice (CFTJ) facilitated the delegation’s visit, which consists of relatives of hostages currently held in Azerbaijan, forcibly displaced victims of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, and CFTJ staff who have taken hundreds of testimonies from such war victims, including returned Prisoners of War (POWs).

CFTJ coordinated the delegation in collaboration with Save Armenia: A Judeo-Christian Alliance and Save the Persecuted Christians, with crucial help from Global Arm. On September 17, 2024, Save Armenia and Save the Persecuted Christians hosted a high-level briefing regarding the ethnic and religious cleansing of Armenian Christians in Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan.

The hearing will feature a panel of distinguished witnesses who will offer insights and recommendations. The panel includes:

Gegham Stepanyan, Former Human Rights Defender for the Republic of Artsakh
Prof. Adam T. Smith, Co-director of Caucasus Heritage Watch at Cornell University
Kate Watters, Co-founder and Executive Director of Crude Accountability
Sharmagh Mardi, Supervising Lawyer at the Center for Truth & Justice
Van Krikorian, Co-Chair of the Armenian Assembly of America
Andrea J. Prasow, Executive Director of Freedom Now

These experts will provide testimony on the human rights situation in Azerbaijan and suggest actions for Congress to address these violations.

The hearing will be held in person and is open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the public, and the media. It will be accessible via live webcast on The Armenian Report.

This hearing marks a critical moment in addressing human rights abuses in Azerbaijan and the plight of displaced ethnic Armenians. As the international community closely watches, the session aims to bring attention to these pressing issues and seek meaningful responses and solutions.

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