Azerbaijan’s Parliament Introduces Outrageous Anti-American Resolution

BY HARUT SASSOUNIAN

Harut Sassounian

Given the joyful spirit of the holiday season, I wanted to dedicate my article to a cheerful subject. However, when I saw the text of the bizarre Resolution submitted to Azerbaijan’s Parliament on Christmas Eve, I knew that I could not pick a more disgustingly amusing topic.

The proposed Azeri bill is in response to the U.S. House Resolution 4264 (Azerbaijan Democracy Act of 2015) introduced by Helsinki Commission Chair Cong. Chris Smith (R-NJ) on December 16, calling for denial of U.S. entry visas to Azerbaijan’s leaders, their business partners, as well as security, law enforcement, and judicial officials. The Resolution also demands the curtailment of U.S. economic and energy projects with Azerbaijan.

Cong. Smith criticized Azerbaijan’s government for jailing journalists, opposition leaders and human rights activists, holding fraudulent elections, and violating rights of religious minorities.

To counter Cong. Smith’s initiative, Rovshan Rzayev, Deputy Chair of Azerbaijan’s Parliamentary Committee on Legal Policy, fearlessly rushed to propose a counter-Resolution on December 24 that would:

1. Refuse entry to Azerbaijan of: U.S. officials and family members; Senators and House members involved in discrediting Azerbaijan; politicians cooperating with Armenian Diaspora organizations; journalists, representatives of Non-Governmental Organizations, and experts conducting a “smear campaign against Azerbaijan”