NEWS: Schiff, Peters, Bilirakis, and Pallone Lead 100+ Colleagues in Urging State Department to Help End Azerbaijan’s Military Presence in Armenia and Secure the Release of[...]

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.), along with U.S. Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.-12) and Frank Pallone (D-N.J.-06), led over 100 lawmakers in sending a bipartisan, bicameral letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the State Department to prioritize the release of Armenian detainees being unlawfully held in Azerbaijan.

"We are concerned that amid these positive steps Azerbaijan continues to undermine the peace process. Azerbaijan's decision to sentence the unlawfully detained Armenian prisoners of war demonstrates a willingness to upend stability. Additionally, the presence of Azerbaijani military forces in more than 200 square kilometers of Armenian territory creates asymmetry in ongoing talks," the lawmakers wrote.

Those being detained include political and military leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh who have been illegally imprisoned since Azerbaijan's attack on the region in 2023. Additionally, the letter calls on Secretary Rubio to advocate for the removal of Azerbaijani military forces from within Armenia. Currently, Azerbaijan maintains a military presence in over 200 square kilometers of land within Armenia. Furthermore, the letter instructs the State Department to withhold military assistance from Azerbaijan if the government remains uncooperative on addressing these issues.

"The United States has a critical role in ensuring that ongoing talks yield results that advance peace and security in the region," the lawmakers continued.

"As Azerbaijan continues to unlawfully detain Armenian hostages, destroy Artsakh's ancient Christian heritage, and occupy Armenia's sovereign territory, the U.S. should not be subsidizing the very regime responsible for these abuses. Instead, Washington should use its leverage to hold Baku accountable for its aggression and advance a truly just, durable, and dignified peace in the South Caucasus," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of Armenian National Committee of America. "The ANCA thanks Senator Peters, Senator Schiff, and Representatives Bilirakis and Pallone for leading this bipartisan, bicameral call to withhold U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan. The support of 101 Members of Congress on this letter sends a clear message: Azerbaijan's destabilizing conduct and repeated violations of international law must not be rewarded with U.S. taxpayer dollars."

"The extent of bipartisan and bicameral support reflects a clear recognition in Congress that U.S. policy toward Azerbaijan must be grounded in accountability and measurable outcomes. The unlawful detention of Armenian hostages remains a serious humanitarian and rule-of-law concern that has direct bearing on U.S. policy. Section 907 equips the government with leverage that should ensure U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan is aligned with concrete progress toward accountability, regional stability, and a durable peace. Congress has sent a clear signal that these concerns warrant sustained attention by the Administration's engagement in the region. U.S. policy should guarantee a lasting peace," said Mariam Khaloyan, Director of Congressional Relations at the Armenian Assembly of America.

Background: Tuesday, June 23, 2026 marked 1,000 days since Armenian prisoners of war and civilian hostages were unlawfully detained by Azerbaijan following the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) in 2023. At least 19 Armenians are still held as POWs and 120,000 civilians were forcefully displaced.

California is home to nearly 250,000 Armenians - more than half of the Armenian diaspora in the United States - and Senator Schiff has been a strong champion for the Armenian community, leading Congress to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide in 2019.

Schiff has consistently submitted provisions to be included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to bring home Armenian POWs following Azerbaijan's ethnic cleansing of Artsakh in 2023. He will continue pushing for the release of POWs.

Most recently, Schiff urged the Department of State to highlight Azerbaijan's human rights abuses in its Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2025 and push for an end to Azerbaijan's continued human rights violations.

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear Secretary Rubio,

We recognize the work this administration has done to mediate peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Furthermore, we note efforts by Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve longstanding border disputes through consistent talks. However, we are concerned that amid these positive steps Azerbaijan continues to undermine the peace process. Azerbaijan's decision to sentence unlawfully detained Armenian prisoners of war demonstrates a willingness to upend stability. Additionally, the presence of Azerbaijani military forces in more than 200 square kilometers of Armenian territory creates asymmetry in ongoing talks. This context illustrates Azerbaijan's fragile commitment to the process and emphasizes the importance of the United States remaining engaged on this issue. As Azerbaijan's conduct threatens to compromise the integrity of the peace process, we note with concern the recent decision to reauthorize the waiver of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act [U.S. Public Law No: 102-511]. Despite the issuance of the waiver, we urge your administration to withhold U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan if they continue to jeopardize the success of negotiations. The United States has a critical role in ensuring that ongoing talks yield results that advance peace and security in the region.

In February 2026, Azerbaijan sentenced 16 Armenian detainees to extended terms ranging from 15 years to life in prison. These sentences followed a series of trials that were widely rebuked by international human rights organizations, legal experts, and the European Parliament as a miscarriage of justice. Azerbaijan continues to imprison scores of domestic journalists, opposition leaders, and activists on politically motivated and unfounded charges. The decision to proceed with the trials and sentencing of Armenian detainees is consistent with Azerbaijan's practice of denying fundamental due process and rule of law. The detainees included political and military leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh who have been held illegally since Azerbaijan's military assault on the region in 2023. Almost three years have passed since Azerbaijan's attack on Nagorno-Karabakh forcibly displaced over 100,000 Armenian inhabitants in what has been widely characterized as an act of ethnic cleansing. In addition to forced displacement there continue to be reports of the destruction of Armenian Churches in Nagorno-Karabakh. The pattern of cultural erasure in the region and the decision to move forward with sentencing these individuals calls into question Azerbaijan's genuine commitment to long term peace and stability.

On April 29, 2026, Armenia and Azerbaijan held the thirteenth meeting to discuss border delimitation. Addressing longstanding border disputes remains a critical task to ensure the stability of any future peace agreement. So far, the only practical outcome from these talks has come from Armenia's efforts to address Soviet-era territorial disputes. In May of 2024 Armenia returned four Azerbaijani enclave villages that had been under Armenian control since the first Karabakh war. However, these efforts have been complicated by Azerbaijan's ongoing occupation of an estimated 241.4 sq kilometers of Armenian territory, following military encroachments into Armenia in 2021 and 2022. Azerbaijan's recent encroachments and entrenched military presence within Armenia's internationally recognized borders presents a security challenge and sets the stage for asymmetric negotiations. A just outcome to these talks is imperative to maintaining the integrity of Armenian sovereignty and ensuring long-term stability in the region. We encourage the administration to use existing leverage, such as withholding military assistance, to ensure positive outcomes.

Following a White House summit with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan last year, the waiver of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act was extended. Although the summit was an important step in the right direction there is still significant work to be done to address unresolved humanitarian and security issues. It is clear, that the decision to waive Section 907 has not induced Azerbaijan's engagement on ensuring the release of detainees. As a result, we are concerned that Azerbaijan's inconsistent behavior jeopardizes the prospect of a just and long-lasting peace in the region - and that the continued waiver of Section 907 without a commitment to addressing these concerns will only further encourage destabilizing actions.

June 23rd, 2026, marked the 1000th day of unlawful detention for the Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan's custody. It is imperative that the United States applies meaningful pressure on Azerbaijan to ensure their release, as required under international law. We call on the administration to engage with Azerbaijan to secure the release of detainees and encourage the removal of Azerbaijani military forces from sovereign Armenian land. If meaningful steps are not taken, we urge your administration to withhold U.S. military assistance in order to demonstrate the United States' commitment to ensuring all parties take the peace process seriously.

We thank you for your consideration and look forward to the opportunity to work with you on efforts to ensure peace and stability in the region.

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