Bill > HRes537

Introduced Session

Promoting United States national security and foreign policy objectives through consolidation and strengthening of the rule of law and respect for human rights in the Republic of Azerbaijan. Affirms the importance of the U.S. partnership with the government of Azerbaijan in the areas of international security, European energy security, and economic development. Calls on the U.S. government: in its diplomatic engagement and delivery of bilateral assistance, to prioritize as a matter of strategic importance its response to Azerbaijan's violations of universally recognized human rights, fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law to ensure the long-term sustainability of the U.S.-Azerbaijani bilateral partnership; to closely evaluate reporting to identify and impose travel and financial restrictions on Azerbaijan officials responsible for gross violations of internationally recognized human rights, pursuant to the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act; and to closely evaluate reporting to identify and impose travel restrictions on Azerbaijan officials responsible for severe violations of religious freedom, pursuant to the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. Calls on the government of Azerbaijan to release all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, rehabilitate their records, lift travel bans, and cease harassment, intimidation, and mistreatment of citizens engaged in political speech, independent journalism, and other forms of advocacy on behalf of government accountability, democratic values, and universally recognized human rights. Supports the peaceful efforts of the people of Azerbaijan ito achieve democratic reform and exercise their fundamental freedoms.

Committee Categories

Chris Smith (R)*,  Jim McGovern (D),  Frank Pallone (D),  Adam Schiff (D), 

Referred to the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats. (on 11/29/2017)

Official Document