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U.S. Congress hosts conference on ethnic cleansing of Azerbaijanis in Armenia - PHOTO

25 June 2026 10:05 (UTC +04:00)

On June 24, an international conference titled "The Right of Return and Self-Determination: Double Standards and Selective Approaches" was held at the U.S. Congress (Capitol Hill) in Washington, D.C., organized by the Baku Initiative Group, the Baku Initiative Group told APA.

This event, held at the congress, can be considered an important contribution to the international community's awareness of the truth about the ethnic cleansing of Azerbaijanis by Armenia.

The conference was attended by experts specializing in the protection of the rights of refugees and national minorities, human rights defenders, international law experts, representatives of civil society institutions, and compatriots of Western Azerbaijani origin.

The conference participants emphasized the importance of keeping the recognition of the fundamental right of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis, who were forcibly expelled from their historical lands in the territory of Armenia as a result of the policy of ethnic cleansing, to return safely, voluntarily, and with dignity to their historical homeland constantly on the agenda of international organizations.

It was demanded that the systematic destruction, desecration and appropriation of the cultural, religious and historical heritage belonging to the Azerbaijani people that remains in Armenia, including toponyms, mosques, cemeteries, shrines and other monuments, be given a legal assessment under international law, and that the aforementioned violations be investigated and documented on-site by international organizations.

Representatives of Armenian media operating in the United States, including representatives of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), also watched the event from the hall. However, no incidents were recorded during the event. During the conference, compatriots of Western Azerbaijani origin living in the United States shared their personal stories and refugee experiences, presenting the humanitarian tragedy experienced by Azerbaijanis forcibly expelled from the territory of Armenia. Representatives of the Zikh community emphasized that the right to safe, voluntary and dignified return is not only a humanitarian issue, but also a fundamental human right and a matter of restoring historical justice. At the same time, Secretary General at the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations, Oussama Jammal, and Founder and CEO of Our Sister Our Brother, Matthew Stewart, addressed the event, stressing the inadmissibility of ethnic discrimination, forced displacement and human rights violations. They also highlighted the importance of protecting the rights of displaced communities, ensuring that their voices are heard on international platforms, and strengthening international solidarity.

At the end of the event, the conference participants adopted an appeal addressed to members of the U.S. Congress. The appeal emphasizes the necessity of ensuring the consistent, fair and non-discriminatory application of the right of return and the right of peoples to self-determination in accordance with the norms and principles of international law. The document notes the importance of international support for the right of Western Azerbaijanis to return to their native lands safely, voluntarily and with dignity, as well as the restoration of their property rights and the protection of their cultural heritage. In addition, the appeal reflects concerns regarding the rights of the Zikh community and the peoples of territories that had been under Dutch colonial rule, and calls on the U.S. Congress to take these issues into consideration. The appeal also stresses the importance of defending the right of return, the right to self-determination and universal human rights on the basis of unified and principled approaches, free from selective treatment.

It was noted that this event held at the congress can be considered an important contribution to the international community's awareness of the truth about the ethnic cleansing of Azerbaijanis by Armenia.