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The Azerbaijani lobby failed to pass a shameful law in Texas distorting the facts from the history of Azerbaijan. Texas State Representative Dwayne Bohab pulled from consideration a misleading resolution (HR2309) “Commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the Black January events in Azerbaijan” he introduced late April, 2015 under the influence of the Azerbaijani lobby, reported the Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCAWR).

The resolution was filled with factually inaccurate historical information with respect to the events that led to Azerbaijan’s independence as well as its policies regarding people’s right to self-determination and independence, according to the article.

“We were particularly pleased to see Representative Bohac’s quick response and reconsideration to ultimately withdraw the resolution after gaining better understanding of the facts about Azerbaijan and the region,” ANCA-WR Executive Director Elen Asatryan said.

Jeff Stokes, Legislative Director for State Representative Dwayne Bohac, informed Asbarez that per Texas law once a hold is placed on a piece of legislation, no further action is taken on the matter. The given decision came after ANCA WR provided facts surrounding the events that led to Azerbaijan’s independence, the corrupt and authoritarian regime of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and the country’s gross human rights violations.

ANCA WR Executive Director Elen Asatryan submitted a written statement to Bohac opposing the resolution noting, “The resolution gives the impression that Azerbaijan was invaded in retaliation for its independence movement. However, the truth is that troops were sent to Azerbaijan in order to protect the nearly half million Christian Armenians who were being subjected to violent pogroms and massacres throughout the nation in a campaign of ethnic cleansing. Azerbaijan’s hostility was its response to the calls for independence by the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR), which was an autonomous region at the time, thereby demonstrating its repressive policies, which are contrary to the claims made in the language of the resolution.”

Asatryan also reminded that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has the dubious honor of being selected as the most corrupt person by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). The NGO’s finding is based on extensive reports and well-documented evidence that the ruling clan has been systematically grabbing shares of the most profitable businesses in Azerbaijan for many years.

The Committee to Protect Journalists concluded that Azerbaijan is the fifth most censored and repressive country in the world. In its report covering 2015 the CPJ concluded that the ‘main sources of information in Azerbaijan are broadcasters which are owned and controlled by the state or its proxies.’ The report also noted that independent media outlets are subjected to harassment and prosecution by officials, and that at least ten journalists and bloggers are currently in Azerbaijani jails on fabricated charges.

Related:

“Der Standard”: Lobbyists of Azerbaijan put in place in European Parliament 

Despite millions spent on lobbyists Azerbaijan doesn’t get any positive statement from USA