Adam Schiff Marks 1,000 Days of Armenian Captivity, Urges U.S. to Expose Azerbaijan’s Human Rights Abuses

U.S. Senator Adam Schiff has called on the State Department to prominently document Azerbaijan’s human rights record in its upcoming 2025 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, arguing that continued international scrutiny is necessary to address what he described as a worsening pattern of abuses.

In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Schiff urged the department to prioritize efforts to identify, publicly condemn, and press Azerbaijan to end alleged violations of international human rights standards.

The appeal coincides with what Schiff described as the 1,000th day that Armenian prisoners of war and civilian detainees have remained in Azerbaijani custody following the 2023 forced displacement of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh.

“In those 1,000 days, Azerbaijan has subjected Armenian detainees to torture and abuse in custody and held them in conditions that State has previously suggested violate the Geneva Conventions,” Schiff wrote. He also criticized the prison sentences handed down to Armenian detainees in February 2026, describing them as politically motivated and the result of “sham trials.”

The senator argued that Azerbaijan has maintained a consistent pattern of serious human rights violations since the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, including allegations of mistreatment of prisoners of war, attacks on civilians, and arbitrary detentions.

Schiff pointed to findings from previous State Department reports that cited credible allegations of unlawful killings, torture, arbitrary arrest and detention, restrictions on freedom of expression, pressure on independent media, and transnational repression. He noted that earlier U.S. assessments found little evidence of accountability for officials accused of abuses and argued that the situation has not improved.

Beyond concerns involving Armenians, Schiff highlighted what he described as an escalating crackdown on political opposition, journalists, academics, and civil society activists inside Azerbaijan. He referenced recent prosecutions of journalists, the continued detention of opposition figures, and the case of economist and academic Gubad Ibadoghlu, who remains under restrictions following his arrest in 2023.

The letter also raised concerns over reports of damage to Armenian cultural and religious heritage in territories under Azerbaijani control. Schiff argued that the destruction of Armenian churches, historical monuments, and cultural sites could further undermine the prospects for displaced Armenians to return to their homes.

“Civil institutions are under attack,” Schiff wrote, adding that international human rights organizations and media reports indicate Azerbaijan’s behavior is worsening rather than improving.

The California senator further criticized a U.S.-Azerbaijan joint declaration signed during President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Washington last year, arguing that while it focused on regional peace efforts, it failed to adequately address humanitarian concerns and human rights issues.

Schiff concluded by urging the State Department to ensure its 2025 human rights report accurately reflects conditions in Azerbaijan and continues to serve as a tool for promoting accountability and change.

California is home to nearly 250,000 Armenian Americans, the largest Armenian-American population in the United States. Schiff, a longtime advocate on Armenian issues, has previously led congressional efforts to secure recognition of the Armenian Genocide and has repeatedly called for the release of Armenian prisoners held by Azerbaijan.

The full letter was released publicly by the senator’s office on June 24.

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