The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee voted 44–7 on Wednesday to approve an amendment calling on Azerbaijan to immediately and unconditionally release all Armenian prisoners of war and political prisoners, advancing the measure to the full House of Representatives.
According to the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), the amendment was introduced by Congressional Armenian Caucus Vice Chair Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) and received the support of House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL). The measure was adopted as part of H.R. 9086, the House Foreign Service Act.
Following the vote, Sherman said the committee had put Congress “on the record” in support of the immediate release of Armenians held by Azerbaijan, adding that he would continue working to secure the freedom of those “unjustly and illegally held, tortured, and abused.”
ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian welcomed the committee’s action, stating that the release of Armenian hostages, the safe return of Artsakh refugees, and the withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces from Armenia are essential preconditions for a durable peace rather than issues to be used as bargaining chips.
The amendment expresses the sense of Congress that Azerbaijan should immediately and unconditionally release all Armenian prisoners of war and political prisoners. It previously cleared committee markup in June after Sherman agreed to revise the text in consultation with Chairman Mast.
The legislation now advances to the full U.S. House of Representatives for consideration. According to ANCA, Armenian Americans are being encouraged to contact their representatives and urge support for H.R. 9086 with the Sherman amendment intact ahead of the House floor vote.
