Assemblymember Chris Holden Introduces Anti-Blockade Resolution:

Sacramento, CA – Today, Assemblymember Chris Holden introduced AJR 1: Relative to the Republic of Artsakh, to condemn the Azerbaijan’s blockade of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) and calling for the Biden Administration to take tangible action to hold Azerbajani government accountable for its flagrant violations of international human rights.  

The resolution urges the Administration to ensure emergency humanitarian assistance is made available to the Armenians of Artsakh. Azerbaijan has cut off power to Artsakh during the blockade that began on December 12, 2022. Over 120,000 people, including women, children, elderly, disabled among others are left fifty-three days without heat in the freezing winter.

“California is home to a large diaspora of Armenian Americans, many whose family and friends are being impacted by the continued blockade,” said Assemblymember Chris Holden. “I may not be Armenian but my heart aches alongside the Armenian diaspora community as their homeland continues to be under attack by Azerbaijani forces.”

Earlier in January of this year, Assemblymember Chris Holden joined his colleagues in the California Armenian Legislative Caucus in a letter to the Biden administration, urging for the Administration to make every effort to open the Lachin Corridor, the only route linking Artsakh and Armenia.

“Assemblymember Holden has been a longtime friend of the Armenian community. He once again has shown his unwavering support during these trying times, when Armenians in Artsakh are facing extermination by the Azerbaijani government. The Armenian American community is thankful for Mr. Holden presenting a joint resolution calling on the Azeri government to end its illegal blockade and to hold Azerbaijani government accountable for its relentless aggression,” said Aida Dimejian, ANCA National Board Member. 

Since the first day of the blockade, the ANCA has been working with the White House, State Department, and Congressional leaders – urging them to stop U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan and to send emergency humanitarian assistance to Artsakh. Thousands have already used the ANCA online portal – anca.org/blockade – to call, tweet, and write the White House and Congressional leaders to immediately address this enfolding Artsakh humanitarian crisis.

The resolution would respectfully call on the President and State Department for the enforcement of Section 907 restrictions on military assistance to Azerbaijan, the imposition of sanctions on Azerbaijani officials complicit in the enforcement of the blockade and commissioning of war crimes, and urges the Administration to ensure emergency humanitarian assistance is made available to the Armenians of Artsakh.

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