[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 181 (Thursday, October 22, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6405-S6406]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 754--REQUESTING INFORMATION ON THE GOVERNMENT OF 
AZERBAIJAN'S HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES PURSUANT TO SECTION 502B(C) OF THE 
                     FOREIGN ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1961

  Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Casey, Mr. Markey, Mr. 
Durbin, Mr. Booker, and Mr. Reed) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 754

       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON THE GOVERNMENT OF 
                   AZERBAIJAN'S HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES.

       (a) Statement Required.--Not later than 30 days after the 
     date of the adoption of this resolution, the Secretary of 
     State shall, pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2304(c)), transmit to the 
     Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives 
     a statement, prepared with the assistance of the Assistant 
     Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, 
     with respect to Azerbaijan.
       (b) Elements.--The statement submitted under subsection (a) 
     shall include the following elements:
       (1) All the available information about observance of and 
     respect for human rights and fundamental freedom in 
     Azerbaijan, and a

[[Page S6406]]

     detailed description of practices by the Government of 
     Azerbaijan with respect thereto, including alleged violations 
     of such rights and freedoms by the Government of Azerbaijan, 
     including--
       (A) unlawful or arbitrary killings;
       (B) torture;
       (C) arbitrary arrest and detention without charges and 
     trial;
       (D) political prisoners;
       (E) arbitrary interference with privacy;
       (F) restrictions on freedom of expression, the press, and 
     the internet;
       (G) restrictions on freedoms of assembly, association, and 
     movement;
       (H) refoulement of refugees;
       (I) restrictions on political participation;
       (J) discrimination and violence against women, minorities, 
     and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) 
     persons; and
       (K) the worst forms of child labor.
       (2) The steps the United States Government has taken to--
       (A) promote respect for and observance of human rights in 
     Azerbaijan and discourage any practices in Azerbaijan that 
     are inimical to internationally recognized human rights; and
       (B) publicly or privately call attention to, and 
     disassociate the United States and any security assistance 
     provided for Azerbaijan from, such practices.
       (3) Whether, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, 
     notwithstanding any such practices, extraordinary 
     circumstances exist that necessitate a continuation of 
     security assistance for Azerbaijan and, if so, a description 
     of the circumstances and the extent to which the assistance 
     should be continued (subject to such conditions as Congress 
     may impose under section 502B of the Foreign Assistance Act 
     of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2304)), and all the facts pursuant to 
     which it is in the national interest of the United States to 
     provide such assistance.
       (4) Other information, including--
       (A) all available credible information concerning alleged 
     violations of internationally recognized human rights by the 
     Government of Azerbaijan, its armed forces, and associated 
     groups and persons in the context of their activities in the 
     South Caucasus region, including the denial of the right to 
     life, the infliction of civilian casualties, the displacement 
     of civilian populations, and attacks on civilian 
     infrastructure and houses of worship;
       (B) the likelihood that United States security assistance, 
     as defined in section 502B(d) of the Foreign Assistance Act 
     of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2304(d)) and including training and 
     equipment provided under section 333 of title 10, United 
     States Code, has been and will be used in the South Caucasus 
     by the Government of Azerbaijan in a manner inimical to 
     internationally recognized human rights; and
       (C) a description of the steps the United States has taken 
     to--
       (i) discourage any practices by the Government of 
     Azerbaijan, its armed forces, or associated groups or persons 
     in the South Caucasus that are inimical to internationally 
     recognized human rights; and
       (ii) publicly or privately call attention to, and 
     disassociate the United States and any security assistance 
     provided to the Government of Azerbaijan, including training 
     and equipment provided under section 333 of title 10, United 
     States Code, from, such practices in the South Caucasus.

                          ____________________