Duval Times

U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) have spoken out against Azerbaijan's recent military incursion in the South Caucasus, which has targeted Armenian civilians in Nagorno-Karabakh. The senators have condemned this attack as a grave escalation in Azerbaijan's ongoing efforts to ethnically cleanse Armenians from the region.

In a joint statement, the senators called on the Biden Administration and international allies to forcefully condemn this military aggression and demand a peaceful resolution to put an end to the human rights violations. They emphasized the need for the United States to take immediate action by halting all security assistance to Azerbaijan, as required under section 907 of the Freedom Support Act.

This is not the first time these concerns have been raised. Last year, Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) joined Rubio in introducing a bipartisan resolution urging President Joe Biden to determine whether Azerbaijani officials should face targeted sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.

The senators' statement highlights the urgent need for the international community to address this situation and put pressure on Azerbaijan to cease its military aggression against Armenian civilians. By taking a stand against these human rights violations, the United States and its allies can work towards a peaceful resolution in the South Caucasus.

To find out more about Azerbaijan's military incursion and the senators' response, please visit: Reuters

For information on last year's bipartisan resolution introduced by Senators Rubio and Menendez, please visit: Rubio Senate