Today marks exactly 1,000 long days since Armenian prisoners of war and civilian hostages have been in unlawful detention in Azerbaijan, enduring untold terror, abuse, and threats of execution. I refuse to allow the world to forget these prisoners, just as I refuse to forget the indigenous Armenians who were violently forced out of Artsakh—their ancestral homeland. U.S. Congresswoman Laura Friedman, who represents the largest Armenian-American community in the country, stated this at a press conference on Capitol Hill.

The Congresswoman underscored that she personally visited Nagorno-Karabakh several years ago, which makes the scale of this tragedy deeply personal for her. During her visit to Artsakh, she witnessed firsthand an incredibly vibrant, ancient Armenian community and unique historical artifacts.

"I saw churches that were built back in the fourth century. The idea that those people have been uprooted and forced from their homeland is tragic, and the thought of those monuments of history—which are crucial not just for Armenians but for the entire world—now being desecrated and destroyed by Baku as part of a cultural ethnic cleansing breaks my heart. The rest of the world should not tolerate this," stated Laura Friedman.

She recalled that after orchestrating years-long sham trials, the Azerbaijani authorities sentenced Artsakh leaders and prisoners to extended prison sentences. Azerbaijan is trying to shut the eyes of the world to its atrocities, but the U.S. and its international partners refuse to ignore these crimes.

The politician detailed the steps being taken in Washington to change the situation. Specifically, she and her colleagues from both parties sent an official appeal to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, demanding that a safe return of forcibly displaced Armenians to their indigenous homeland in Artsakh be ensured.

Laura Friedman emphasized that she will continue to consistently fight for the introduction of harsh U.S. sanctions against Azerbaijan, an increase in humanitarian aid for refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh, and the implementation of educational programs raising awareness about the Armenian Genocide—the first genocide of the 20th century. In this regard, she co-sponsored the federal Armenian Genocide Education Act.

"The Armenian people have endured genocide and displacement, yet they have stood firm and continue to thrive both in America and around the world. True peace cannot come without accountability. It requires absolute respect for Armenia's sovereignty, as well as the rights and self-determination of the indigenous people of Artsakh. We will not stop this fight until every single hostage is released," summarized Laura Friedman.