[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 12, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E172-E173]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BAKU POGROMS

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                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 12, 2020

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise in recognition of the 30th 
anniversary of the Baku Pogroms against Christian Armenians that took 
place from 1988 to 1990. In February 1988, the Armenian population in 
Soviet-controlled Azerbaijan became the victim of racially motived, 
violent pogroms that started after peaceful protests took place against 
Moscow's arbitrary separation of Armenia and decades of repression and 
discrimination. The violence began with the Sumgait pogroms in February 
of 1988, and continued in Kirovabad (November 1988), and Baku (January 
1990). Following this, the Armenian community suffered through a failed 
war of aggression by Baku to subjugate the people of Artsakh.
  During this time, hundreds of Armenian civilians were killed, raped, 
beaten, maimed, and expelled from their homes for no reason other than 
their ethnicity. These hateful acts were fueled by anti-Armenian 
rhetoric from Azerbaijani officials and citizens. These pogroms were 
part of a systemic effort to ethnically cleanse Azerbaijan of Armenians 
and to send a message to Armenians to stop challenging Soviet 
Azerbaijani authorities.
  For over 30 years, Azerbaijan has attempted to cover up these crimes 
against humanity and has propped up the perpetrators of the Baku and 
Sumgait Pogroms as national heroes. It is critical that the United 
States government recognize and denounce this ethnically motivated 
violence and attacks on innocent children, women, and men in Armenian 
communities.
  We must all be aware of the history of violence targeting the 
Armenian people. I am grateful that the State of Illinois emphasizes 
Armenian genocide education and I will work with my colleagues to 
promote legislation to help facilitate more states doing the same. We 
must ensure that the victims of the Sumgait and Baku pogroms are never 
forgotten and that such hateful acts of violence never happen again. We 
must remain committed to achieving a lasting peace in the Caucasus, and 
ensure that the people of Artsakh are able to live free from 
Azerbaijani abuse and aggression.

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