36 American congressmen called on US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to impose sanctions under the “Global Magnitsky Act” against Azerbaijani officials responsible for gross human rights violations against Armenians, including illegal detention, torture, and sham trials of prisoners of war and the former military-political leadership of Artsakh. This was reported to NEWS.am by the press service of the Central Office of the “Hai Dat” Bureau of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun.

The congressmen who signed the letter emphasize that “to this day, Azerbaijan unlawfully holds at least 23 Armenian prisoners of war captured during and after the blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh,” warning that “these political hostages are subjected to violence and degrading treatment.”

“Sham trials of high-ranking Armenian figures undermine confidence-building measures necessary for lasting peace. The release of political prisoners and prisoners of war is an important step toward achieving a just and lasting peace.

We believe that these sanctions are an important tool of pressure aimed at the release of prisoners of war and deterring further aggression against Armenia,” the letter states.