U.S. House panel urges release of Armenian prisoners

PanARMENIAN.Net - The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee voted 44-7 on July 22 to approve an amendment calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all Armenian hostages held in Azerbaijan, according to the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

The ANCA-backed amendment was introduced by Congressional Armenian Caucus Vice Chair Brad Sherman, a California Democrat. Committee Chairman Brian Mast, a Florida Republican, also supported the initiative, Factor.am reported.

"Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee voted 44-7 in favor of my amendment calling on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian POWs. I am proud to have put Congress on the record and will continue fighting to free Armenians unjustly and illegally held, tortured, and abused by Azerbaijan," Sherman said after the vote.

On June 10, the committee proposal advanced with Chairman Mast's support. This followed Sherman's agreement to amend the text by removing a paragraph concerning application of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act.

Sherman also urged the committee to take action based on documented abuses of Armenians held in Azerbaijani captivity.

"Given the documented executions of Armenian prisoners of war by Azerbaijani forces, including several executions that were horrifyingly recorded and circulated on social media, as documented by Human Rights Watch, it is vital that the United States unequivocally support the immediate and unconditional release of all Armenian prisoners of war," Sherman told the committee in June.

The congressman also linked the release of the hostages to the U.S. administration's diplomatic efforts in the region.

"As President Trump continues his efforts to secure lasting peace in the South Caucasus, securing the release of Armenian prisoners of war and political prisoners would be a significant step toward this achievement," he said.

Ruben Vardanyan was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a court in Baku.

Former Nagorno-Karabakh President Arayik Harutyunyan was sentenced to life imprisonment. Former Defense Army commander Levon Mnatsakanyan and former first deputy commander Davit Manukyan were also sentenced to life imprisonment, as were former Nagorno-Karabakh Foreign Minister Davit Babayan and parliament speaker Davit Ishkhanyan. Former Nagorno-Karabakh presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan were sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Madat Babayan and Melikset Pashayan were sentenced to 19 years in prison, Garik Martirosyan to 18 years, Davit Allahverdyan and Levon Balayan to 16 years, and Erik Ghazaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan and Vasily Beglaryan to 15 years.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance said after meeting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan that Armenia and the U.S. had completed negotiations on a 123 Agreement on peaceful nuclear cooperation, opening broad opportunities for major projects. He said this could involve up to $5 billion in initial U.S. exports, plus $4 billion in support through fuel and servicing.