Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) vowed to end U.S. aid to the Aliyev regime in response to Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin (Berdzor) corridor - the only road connecting Artsakh to Armenia and the rest of the world - at the Feb 2, 2023 Capitol Hill protest. “For too long, the United States has indulged in a policy and rhetoric of false equivalence, calling on both sides to end the violence along the line of contact when only one side, Azerbaijan, has been the aggressor,” expounded Schiff.
After the blockade started in December, Rep. Schiff led a congressional letter to end aid provided by the State Department and the Department of Defense to Azerbaijan. As the Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Representative Schiff repeatedly drew attention to the human rights violations committed by Azerbaijan, including destruction of Armenian cultural heritage and war crimes against Armenian POWs leading up to the blockade.
“No one can claim if we fail to act that we couldn't see this coming. We have a responsibility to fellow democracies. We have a responsibility to people who want the right of self determination, to chart their own future. We must stand with Artsakh.” As Representative Schiff clearly explains, the resolution for the end of the Artsakh blockade is consistent with how U.S. foreign policy must change to be a bulwark for democracies like Armenia and hold dictators like Aliyev accountable: “Not a penny more for the butcher in Baku!”
Hundreds converged on Capitol Hill to participate in the protest, organized by the ARF Eastern Region, which coincided with the ANCA Eastern Region Advocacy Days, urging Congress to adopt H.Res.108 - Condemning Azerbaijan's blockade of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) and ongoing human rights violations.
For more information on the anti-blockade legislation and to take action visit: anca.org/blockade
For full coverage of the February 2nd Capitol Hill protest, visit The Armenian Weekly: [ Ссылка ]
