Peters, Schiff, Bilarakis, Pallone Lead Colleagues in Urging State Department to Help End Azerbaijan’s Military Presence in Armenia and Secure the Release of Armenian Prisoners[...]

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Adam Schiff (D-CA), along with U.S. Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-14) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ-06), led more than 100 of their colleagues in sending a bipartisan, bicameral letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the State Department to prioritize the release of Armenian detainees being unlawfully held in Azerbaijan. Those being detained include political and military leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh who have been illegally imprisoned since Azerbaijan's attack on the region in 2023. Additionally, the letter calls on Secretary Rubio to advocate for the removal of Azerbaijani military forces from within Armenia. Currently, Azerbaijan maintains a military presence in over 200 square kilometers of land within Armenia. Furthermore, the letter instructs the State Department to withhold military assistance from Azerbaijan if the government remains uncooperative on addressing these issues.

"June 23rd, 2026, marked the 1000th day of unlawful detention for the Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan's custody," the lawmakers wrote. "It is imperative that the United States applies meaningful pressure on Azerbaijan to ensure their release, as required under international law."

The lawmakers continued, "We call on the administration to engage with Azerbaijan to secure the release of the detainees and encourage the removal of Azerbaijani military forces from sovereign Armenian land. If meaningful steps are not taken, we urge your administration to withhold U.S. military assistance in order to demonstrate the United States' commitment to ensuring all parties take the peace process seriously."

"As Azerbaijan continues to unlawfully detain Armenian hostages, destroy Artsakh's ancient Christian heritage, and occupy Armenia's sovereign territory, the U.S. should not be subsidizing the very regime responsible for these abuses. Instead, Washington should use its leverage to hold Baku accountable for its aggression and advance a truly just, durable, and dignified peace in the South Caucasus," said Armenian National Committee of America Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "The ANCA thanks Senator Peters, Senator Schiff, and Representatives Bilirakis and Pallone for leading this bipartisan, bicameral call to withhold U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan. The support of 101 Members of Congress on this letter sends a clear message: Azerbaijan's destabilizing conduct and repeated violations of international law must not be rewarded with U.S. taxpayer dollars."

"The extent of bipartisan and bicameral support reflects a clear recognition in Congress that U.S. policy toward Azerbaijan must be grounded in accountability and measurable outcomes. The unlawful detention of Armenian hostages remains a serious humanitarian and rule-of-law concern that has direct bearing on U.S. policy. Section 907 equips the government with leverage that should ensure U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan is aligned with concrete progress toward accountability, regional stability, and a durable peace. Congress has sent a clear signal that these concerns warrant sustained attention by the Administration's engagement in the region. U.S. policy should guarantee a lasting peace," said Mariam Khaloyan, Director of Congressional Relations at the Armenian Assembly of America.

Peters visited the Armenia-Azerbaijan border in September 2023 and viewed firsthand the Azerbaijani blockade of the Lachin corridor. In response to his visit, he introduced the Armenian Protection Act, which unanimously passed in the Senate in November 2023. The Armenian Protection Act would end U.S. assistance to the Azerbaijani government that is currently allowed under a waiver to Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. Although the Freedom Support Act generally prohibits most bilateral assistance to Azerbaijan, following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, waiver authority was added to Section 907 granting additional discretion to the President to provide aid to Azerbaijan. The waiver authority has been invoked annually by Presidents of both parties until 2023 when the Biden Administration withheld the renewal of the waiver following Azerbaijan's attack on Nagorno-Karabakh. The Trump Administration has since reauthorized the waiver in August 2025 and August of 2026.

To read the full letter, click here.

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