[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 35 (Friday, February 25, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E172-E173]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        RECOGNIZING THE VICTIMS OF THE BAKU AND SUMGAIT POGROMS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 25, 2022

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 34th 
anniversary of the Sumgait pogrom and the 32nd anniversary of the Baku 
pogrom.
  Hundreds of Armenian civilians living in the city of Sumgait in 
Azerbaijan suffered horrific acts of violence when they were 
indiscriminately killed, raped, maimed, and burned alive in a pogrom 
that started on February 27, 1988. Almost two years later, a seven-day 
pogrom broke out in Baku during which Armenians were beaten, murdered, 
and expelled from the city beginning January 12, 1990. Over 90 Armenian 
civilians were killed, over 700 were injured, and countless other 
victims were permanently displaced by the ethnic violence that 
followed.
  The Azerbaijani Government was complicit in each of these atrocities 
by using violent rhetoric in rallies leading up to the pogrom and by 
doing nothing to halt the ensuing violence against Armenian citizens. 
Azerbaijan has taken steps over the last two decades to cover up these 
crimes against humanity and dismiss

[[Page E173]]

the atrocities committed in Sumgait and Baku. Even more disturbing, the 
Azeri Government lauded the perpetrators of this event and similar 
violent attacks.
  President Aliyev's regime continues to use hateful rhetoric against 
Armenians to this day, including in the build up to Azerbaijan's deadly 
attacks on Artsakh in the fall of 2020. Azeri forces, Turkish drones, 
and Turkish-backed foreign terrorists conducted a premeditated attack 
that violated international law. The resulting indiscriminate bombing 
campaigns against large population centers killed thousands of 
Armenians and displaced tens of thousands more. It also included 
appalling war crimes against Armenians at the hands of Azerbaijani 
forces and foreign mercenaries that included beheadings, torture, and 
other abhorrent acts of violence.
  I continue to stand with the Armenian people in condemning the 
horrific pogroms and in mourning the loss of those who were senselessly 
killed in Artsakh and subsequent Azeri attacks on Armenian soil. It is 
critical for the United States to recognize and denounce violent 
assaults against all civilians. If we do not condemn or punish crimes 
against humanity and ethnic violence, we become passive bystanders, 
failing to live up to the lessons of the 20th century and our pledge to 
uphold human rights and democratic values all over the world. If we do 
not take a firm stand against those who commit atrocities, it will 
embolden them and encourage others to commit heinous acts in the 
future. These lessons are especially important as we prepare to 
commemorate the 107th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in April.
  I will continue to work with my colleagues on the Congressional 
Armenian Issues Caucus to honor the victims of the Baku and Sumgait 
pogroms and the victims of Azerbaijani aggressions in Artsakh, I will 
also continue to condemn all acts of violence against people who are 
targeted simply because of who they are. I hope my colleagues will join 
me in rejecting violent rhetoric, intimidation and outright violations 
of human rights. In doing so, we renew our commitment to achieving a 
lasting peace in the Caucasus.

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