Congressional, Community, and Coalition leaders to demand Justice for  Armenian and Artsakh Genocides at Capitol Hill Commemoration

ArmInfo. Members of Congress will join with Armenian Americans and allies from across the United States in demanding accountability for Turkey and Azerbaijan's crimes  in 1915 and 2023 at the April 2nd Capitol Hill remembrance of the  Armenian Genocide and Artsakh Genocide.

The event, hosted by the Congressional Armenian Caucus and organized  by the Armenian American organizations, including the Armenian  National Committee of America (ANCA) and Armenian Assembly, will take  place from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center  (HVC-215) and feature bipartisan remarks and calls to action.

Bus transportation from Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church to the  U.S. Capitol is available.  For more information, contact  [email protected] or call (202) 775-1918.

The commemoration caps two days of intensive advocacy-April  1-2-during which grassroots leaders from across the country will take  part in hundreds of meetings with U.S. Senators and Representatives  as part of ANCA Advocacy Days. The ANCA Eastern and Western Regions  are spearheading the effort, with participation from Armenian  American communities representing every region of the country.

The two-day advocacy effort will mobilize bipartisan Congressional  support for a broad range of pro- Armenian policy priorities. Chief  among them is holding Azerbaijan accountable for its genocide of  Artsakh's indigenous Armenian population through the imposition of  targeted U.S. sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act, a full  cut-off of military assistance, and investigations into war crimes,  including the torture and extrajudicial killing of Armenian prisoners  of war. Advocates will also press for renewed U.S.  leadership in  supporting the safe, dignified, and internationally protected right  of return for displaced Artsakh Armenians, a necessary step toward  long-term regional stability and justice.

In parallel, participants will urge Members of Congress to strengthen  U.S. recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide of  1915-1923 and to combat Turkey's ongoing denial through expanded  public education and accountability measures.

"ANCA Advocacy Days have become a cornerstone of our efforts, uniting  hundreds of activists across the Eastern Region to showcase the  impact of grassroots advocacy," stated ANCA Eastern Region  Legislative Affairs and Community Relations Director Nairi  Diratsouian.  "At this pivotal moment for our community and homeland,  we are encouraged by the growing participation and the increasing  recognition of the importance of engaging with lawmakers to influence  policies that directly affect the Armenian nation."

"With a new administration and a new Congress in place, this year's  Advocacy Days come at a crucial moment for Armenian-Americans across  the country," said Ruben Karapetian, Government Affairs Director of  the ANCA Western Region. "The issues at hand for our community,  nationwide, remain urgent, including the end of U.S. aid to  Azerbaijan, the guaranteed and secure right of return for the  Armenians of Artsakh, the unconditional release of Armenian prisoners  and hostages still illegally held by the Aliyev regime, and the  nationwide expansion of Armenian Genocide education."

"Armenian youth and community leaders are mobilizing nationwide to  demand justice for Artsakh and the Armenian Genocide," stated Gev  Iskajyan, ANCA National Grassroots Director. "This new chapter in our  advocacy is rooted in accountability-calling on the U.S. to confront  ongoing Azerbaijani aggression and end decades of denial by holding  Turkey and Azerbaijan to account."