[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 36 (Wednesday, March 1, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E259-E260]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONDEMNING THE ATTACKS ON ARMENIANS IN SUMGAIT, KIROVABAD, AND BAKU

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRAD SHERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 1, 2017

  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, we have reached the 29th anniversary of a 
dark chapter in modern history. During the Nagorno-Karabakh War of 1988 
to 1994, Armenian civilians were indiscriminately attacked in the city 
of Sumgait. Today, I condemn these pogroms and commemorate the victims.
  On the evening of February 27, 1988, a three-day rampage against 
Armenian civilians living in Sumgait, Soviet Azerbaijan began. Armenian 
civilians were hunted down and brutally assaulted. There were cases of 
rape, murder, and maiming of Armenian civilians.
  The Soviet Union prohibited journalists from entering the area. It 
was reported that over 30 people were murdered and over 200 injured. 
However, it is believed that more, perhaps hundreds, were murdered by 
roving mobs.
  Sadly, the Sumgait pogrom was only the beginning.
  Despite international condemnation of the pogrom in Sumgait, another 
anti-Armenian pogrom occurred later that year in Kirovabad, Azerbaijan, 
from November 21st to 27th. Due to the brutality, the Armenians of 
Kirovabad and the surrounding areas were forced to flee their homes. 
Another crime against humanity occurred from January 13th to the 19th, 
in 1990. Members of the Armenian community of Baku, the capital of 
Azerbaijan, were assaulted, tortured and killed by violent mobs.
  I would like to commemorate the Armenian victims of the Sumgait, 
Kirovabad, and Baku massacres, to honor the memory of the murdered, and 
to stop future bloodshed. If we hope to stop future massacres, we must 
acknowledge these horrific events and ensure they do not happen again.
  We must urge Azerbaijan to cease all threats and acts of coercion 
against the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh. We should actively monitor 
and condemn Azerbaijan's violations of the ceasefire in Nagomo 
Karabakh.
  Lastly, we must reaffirm America's commitment to an enduring, 
peaceful and democratic resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict 
that includes the Nagorno Karabakh Republic as a party to negotiations.

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