California Democratic Party Condemns Attack on Artsakh

The California Democratic Party adopted a resolution on May 2, authored by Ellen Asatryan, a member of the California Democratic Party Central Committee and an elected member of the Los Angeles Democratic Party, condemning Turkey and Azerbaijan for war crimes committed during the 44-day war following their attack on Artsakh on September 27. The resolution also urges the U.S. Congress and the Biden administration to impose sanctions on Turkey and Azerbaijan and demands the immediate release of all Armenian prisoners of war and captured civilians by Azerbaijani authorities.

“Moreover, it also calls on the California state employees' pension office and the State Teachers' Retirement System to take social responsibility and divest all state employee retirement funds from investment instruments issued by Turkey and Azerbaijan until Turkey recognizes the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923 and until the people of Artsakh are granted the right to self-determination on their historic land,” the report states, referencing Armenpress.

The resolution was adopted at a general session of the Sunday convention with an absolute majority vote, thus becoming one of the 13 priorities of the party’s activities for 2021.

“By adopting this resolution as one of its priorities, the California Democratic Party sent a clear message to Ankara, Baku, Washington, as well as to the California state employees' pension office and the State Teachers' Retirement System that it is time to take immediate action to ensure the safe return of Armenian prisoners of war and captured civilians held in Azerbaijan, and not only impose sanctions on Turkey and Azerbaijan but also deprive both countries of any investment programs. Supporting, trading, and investing means becoming complicit in Turkey's genocidal policies and denial of genocide, participating in the war crimes that Turkey and Azerbaijan continue to commit to this day. This is a humanitarian crisis that demands our bold initiative and direct attention. It is our duty and moral obligation to take a strong stance against violations of human rights, show solidarity in this moment of pain, and amplify the voices of our national minorities against oppression, defending the fundamental values of life, liberty, and decent existence,” stated Ellen Asatryan.

According to the source, she expressed gratitude to all supporters who contributed to the adoption of the resolution: “I am grateful to the more than 125 organizations and leaders, political and public figures, members of the Democratic Party for their endorsements and support. Among them are Congressman Adam Schiff, Los Angeles City Council member Paul Krekorian, DCC members Hans Johnson, Dr. Suzy Abajyan, Kev Abazajyan, Malcolm Johnson, as well as the Armenian National Committee of America, the Armenian National Congress of America, the Western American Armenian Council with its 24 regional and national Armenian-American spiritual, political, and civic organizations, the Glendale Teachers Association, also members of the party's resolutions committee and around 900 delegates who voted unanimously in favor of resolution 21-04.143.

“It is utterly unacceptable that many months after the end of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, hundreds of Armenian servicemen and civilians remain in Azerbaijan's captivity. Little is known about their condition, treatment, and well-being,” said Congressman Adam Schiff, who was noted as the initial sponsor of the resolution. “The U.S. must use all diplomatic leverage to secure the return of the prisoners of war and civilians and impose consequences on Azerbaijan for its ongoing human rights violations. I was proud to support Ellen Asatryan's work on this resolution, which calls on the Biden administration and Congress to condemn Turkey and Azerbaijan and demand that Azerbaijani authorities immediately release all Armenian prisoners of war and captured civilians,” he added.