U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, chairman of the Senate International Relations Committee, has introduced draft legislative amendments to hold Azerbaijan accountable for aggression and alleged war crimes against Armenians in Armenia and Artsakh, as well as to halt the export of military hardware to Baku.

“Nearly a year after Azerbaijan’s attack on eastern Armenia and more than 200 days after the Aliyev regime surrounded the indigenous Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, it is clear that Azerbaijan is using offensive forces and continues to encircle the defenseless Armenian population,” said Menendez.

“The annual application of the reservation of Article 907 of the Freedom of Assistance Act violates the spirit of the law. Moreover, given Azerbaijan’s aggressive behavior, it is clear that the conditions for using the reserve have not been met. In view of this mockery of the law, it is high time to repeal the reserve and put pressure on Baku to stop its aggressive actions against Armenians. I stand by the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, who are in danger of starvation, and the Armenian people, who are still recovering from their own losses, which they suffered as a result of Azerbaijan’s invasion of their homeland,” he added.

“There can be no peace without justice. This is why I firmly believe that we must continue to investigate all alleged war crimes. In addition, we must put pressure on the Aliyev regime to prevent future crimes, including by imposing sanctions on those responsible,” he said.