Victims of Azerbaijani war crimes to testify in Washington D.C. for first time
For the first time ever, on the one year anniversary of the fall of Nagorno-Karabakh, on September 19, 2024, victims of Azerbaijani war crimes will attend and testify at the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission hearing on human rights violations perpetrated by the government of Azerbaijan against ethnic Armenians and ethnic Azerbaijanis who oppose the government, the commission reported.
A delegation of eight individuals from Armenia is currently in Washington D.C. for the Lantos hearing. The Center for Truth and Justice (CFTJ) facilitated the delegation’s visit, which consists of relatives of hostages currently held in Azerbaijan, forcibly displaced victims of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, and CFTJ staff who have taken hundreds of testimonies from such war victims including returned Prisoners of War (POWs).
CFTJ coordinated the delegation in collaboration with Save Armenia: A Judeo-Christian Alliance and Save the Persecuted Christians, with crucial help from Global Arm. On September 17, 2024, Save Armenia and Save the Persecuted Christians hosted a high-level briefing regarding the ethnic and religious cleansing of Armenian Christians in Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan.
The Lantos hearing will be held in person and is open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the public, and the media. The public and the media may attend in person or view the hearing by live webcast on the Commission website; for accessibility details see the Hearing Notice.
The delegation from Armenia will also hold meetings with lawmakers, organizations, and congressional committees while in Washington D.C.