US Democrat Ellen Asatryan's Resolution Calls for Azerbaijan to Release Armenian Prisoners

Ellen Asatryan, a member of the Democratic Party in Los Angeles and a member of the Democratic Central Committee, has introduced a resolution that is under discussion during the California Democratic Party's annual convention from April 29 to May 2.

The resolution condemns Turkey and Azerbaijan for their war crimes during the 44-day war that followed the attack on Artsakh on September 27. It also urges the US Congress and the Biden administration to impose sanctions on Turkey and Azerbaijan and demands that Azerbaijani authorities immediately release all Armenian military and civilian captives.

Furthermore, it also calls on California's State Employees' Retirement System and State Teachers' Retirement System to take social responsibility by withdrawing all pension fund investments from instruments issued by Turkey and Azerbaijan until Turkey recognizes the Armenian Genocide from 1915 to 1923 and until the people of Artsakh are given the opportunity for self-determination on their historic land.

“This resolution is deeply personal for me, as I proudly represent many Armenian-Americans among my constituents as a member of the Los Angeles Democratic Party and the Democratic Central Committee. As a party, it is our duty and moral obligation to take a firm stance against human rights violations, to show solidarity during this painful time, and to amplify the voices of our national minorities against oppression while defending the fundamental values of life, liberty, and dignified existence. This is a humanitarian crisis that requires our bold initiative and immediate attention. The situation is grave, with the lives of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians held in Azerbaijan at risk, and threats from tyrants Erdoğan and Aliyev to complete their mission of exterminating the Armenian people continue,” says Ellen Asatryan, adding, “If we do not take a strong stance now, we will be no different from the international community that silently watched the Armenian Genocide in 1915, doing nothing to stop it. I hope my colleagues and our Democratic Party leaders will recognize the extreme importance of this timely resolution and support its adoption at the party convention. I thank all elected officials, guarantors, and organizations who have supported the resolution’s establishment up to this point.”

“Genocide is not a moment in the past; it is happening right now in different parts of the world. Just months ago, Turkey and Azerbaijan began a war against Armenians in Artsakh, and many Armenians fear that another genocide could occur at any moment. Raising this simple truth can help prevent other crimes against humanity by showing that those who engage in mass killings will be held accountable,” says Congressman Adam Schiff, one of the supporters who signed the resolution.

“As a descendant of genocide survivors and a member of the third generation displaced due to genocide, I consider the recent attack by the governments of Azerbaijan and Turkey as a continuation of genocide, the extermination of the indigenous Armenian people from their historic lands, and the destruction of their cultural heritage. This resolution is relevant and important because it calls to hold the governments of Azerbaijan and Turkey accountable for their ongoing violations of human rights against my people. Our tax dollars can no longer support the execution of these governments’ war crimes,” says Suzi Abajyan, an elected member of the Los Angeles Democratic Party and a supporter of the resolution.

The original resolution has been submitted with a necessary maximum of 35 guarantor signatures, including Congressman Adam Schiff and members of the Democratic Central Committee such as Suzi Abajyan, Hans Johansen, Vanuhi Vardanyan, Cindy Montoyan, Ellen Finkelpearl, John Harapetyan, José Barnes, Drexel Herd, Korin Sin, Todd Jones, Jessica Craven, Linda Pérez, Malcolm Johnson, Kev Abazajyan, Gina Clayton-Tarvin, Shawn Abajyan, Melissa Taylor, Rebekah Wolfersberger, Luis López, Mia Livas Porter, Marco Flores, Tina Fredericks, Stephen Fisher, Karen Suarez, Marie An-Lyuts, Kaitlyn Patterson, Angelica Duenas, Tim Wendler, Mindy Pfeifer, Jaquinta Link, Kenneth Armstrong, Jason Small, and Tom Oshounesin. More than 125 organizations and leaders, figures, and members of the Democratic Party have sent letters of guarantee to the committee demanding the adoption of the resolution. These include the Armenian National Committee of America, the Armenian Assembly of America, the Armenian Council of Western America with its 24 regional and national Armenian-American spiritual, political, and social organizations, the Glendale Teachers Association, as well as Los Angeles City Council member Paul Krekorian and others.

The California Democratic Party's Resolutions Committee has the authority to amend any resolution text received. It is also authorized to consolidate resolutions if multiple resolutions on the same or similar topics are submitted without prior consent of their authors. Although two resolutions on the same topic have been submitted, the committee has preferred to exclusively work with Asatryan's text, agreeing to maintain the original text with some modifications.

This resolution follows President Biden's recognition of the Armenian Genocide and another resolution adopted by the Los Angeles County Democratic Party in October 2020 condemning Azerbaijan and Turkey for committing war crimes, calling for immediate sanctions from the US, and halting military assistance to Azerbaijan and Turkey.

California is home to more than one million Armenians, the majority of whom are descendants of genocide survivors and have directly suffered from present threats. They are relentless in their fight for global aid and intervention as they have witnessed the unimaginable suffering of their family members due to Turkey and Azerbaijan.

The California Democratic Party is the dominant political party in the state, representing more than 10.3 million Democrats, making it also the largest Democratic entity in the United States.