It's Time to Impose Sanctions Against Azerbaijan, American Expert Says

It's time to impose sanctions against Azerbaijan. This was stated by American Middle East expert Michael Rubin in his article.

More than a month has passed since the Azerbaijani military blocked the Lachin corridor. Grocery stores and pharmacies are empty.

The expert notes that Azerbaijan denies responsibility and associates the blockade with the spontaneous actions of 'eco-activists', however, few outside Azerbaijan and Turkey accept this fabrication. There is no fully functioning civil society in Azerbaijan, let alone an independent one. Strong diplomacy requires action, not empty rhetoric.

Rubin emphasizes that President Joe Biden can claim that diplomacy has returned, but empty statements only worsen the situation. “Why should anyone take him seriously when the U.S. funds those who are implementing the blockade, while Blinken refuses to comply with U.S. law to maintain military aid to Azerbaijan?”

“When autocrats defy international norms, statements cannot replace actions. It’s time to: impose sanctions against Azerbaijan, send authorized observers to Lachin, send Americans to the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh, Stepanakert, despite Azerbaijan's objections, and offer U.S. forces in Armenia to coordinate humanitarian aid to Artsakh. Strong diplomacy requires action, not empty rhetoric,” wrote expert Michael Rubin.