Dear President Biden / Vice-President Harris:
I am writing to urgently request your personal engagement in averting an impending genocide in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) caused by Azerbaijan’s 250+ day blockade of the Lachin Corridor – the only humanitarian lifeline linking Artsakh to Armenia – which has deprived the region’s 120,000 indigenous Armenians access to food, fuel, medicine, electricity, water, and other essential goods.
This humanitarian catastrophe continues to deteriorate rapidly by the day. Since June 14th, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) – the only international humanitarian organization able to access the region – has been unable to deliver any food to Artsakh’s besieged Armenians, in brazen violation of international humanitarian law. Critical basic food and nutrition shortages endanger the most vulnerable, with the region’s 30,000 children, 20,000 elderly, 9,000 disabled, and 2,000 pregnant women most at risk. Just last week, a young Armenian man succumbed to starvation, a tragic reminder of the horrific fate that awaits the Armenians of Artsakh should the international community continue to turn a blind eye to their suffering.
I urge you to take the following actions, publicly condemning Azerbaijan’s actions, ensuring the U.S. does not continue to enable and embolden this behavior through the provision of military assistance to Azerbaijan, and directing USAID and other relevant agencies to send emergency humanitarian assistance to Artsakh:
— Lead a United Nations Security Council Resolution condemning Azerbaijan’s blockade of Artsakh, and calling for the immediate reopening of the Lachin Corridor consistent with the binding provisional order issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
— Immediately suspend any U.S. new, current, or pending military or security assistance to Azerbaijan, and fully enforce Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act;
— Immediately provide emergency U.S. humanitarian assistance to the Armenian victims of Azerbaijani aggression in Nagorno Karabakh, including by means of a humanitarian airlift;
— Apply statutory sanctions against Azerbaijani officials responsible for the genocidal blockade of Nagorno Karabakh.
The situation is dire. My family and I look forward to hearing about the United States’ action on this matter as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
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Dear Senator / Representative:
I am writing to urge you to press the Biden Administration to take immediate action to avert an impending genocide in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) caused by Azerbaijan’s 250+ day blockade of the Lachin Corridor – the only humanitarian lifeline linking Artsakh to Armenia.
This humanitarian catastrophe continues to deteriorate rapidly by the day. Since June 14th, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been unable to deliver any food to Artsakh’s besieged Armenians, in brazen violation of international humanitarian law. Critical shortages of basic food and nutrition endanger the most vulnerable, with the region’s 30,000 children, 20,000 elderly, 9,000 disabled, and 2,000 pregnant women most at risk. Just last week, a young Armenian man succumbed to starvation, a tragic reminder of the horrific fate that awaits the Armenians of Artsakh should the international community continue to turn a blind eye to their suffering.
I urge you to call on the Biden Administration to:
— Lead a United Nations Security Council Resolution condemning Azerbaijan’s blockade of Artsakh, and calling for the immediate reopening of the Lachin Corridor consistent with the binding provisional order issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
— Suspend any U.S. new, current, or pending military or security assistance to Azerbaijan, and to fully enforce Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act;
— Provide emergency U.S. humanitarian assistance to the Armenian victims of Azerbaijani aggression in Nagorno Karabakh, including by means of a humanitarian airlift;
— Apply statutory sanctions against Azerbaijani officials responsible for the genocidal blockade of Nagorno Karabakh.
My family and I look forward to hearing about the United States’ action on this matter as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
