[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 735 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 735

Requesting information on Azerbaijan's human rights practices pursuant 
       to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 27, 2023

  Mr. Schiff (for himself, Mr. Pallone, and Mr. Costa) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                                Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Requesting information on Azerbaijan's human rights practices pursuant 
       to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

    Resolved,

SECTION 1. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON AZERBAIJAN'S HUMAN RIGHTS 
              PRACTICES.

    (a) Statement Requested.--The House of Representatives requests 
that the Secretary of State, not later than 30 days after the date of 
the adoption of this resolution, transmit to the Committee on Foreign 
Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign 
Relations of the Senate, pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign 
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2304(c)), a statement, prepared in 
collaboration with the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, 
Human Rights, and Labor and the Office of the Legal Adviser, regarding 
Azerbaijan's human rights practices.
    (b) Elements.--The statement submitted under subsection (a) shall 
include the following elements:
            (1) All available information about the observance and 
        respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in 
        Azerbaijan, including information concerning alleged violations 
        of internationally recognized human rights by the Government of 
        Azerbaijan, including--
                    (A) unlawful or arbitrary killings;
                    (B) torture;
                    (C) cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or 
                punishment of detainees;
                    (D) political prisoners;
                    (E) arbitrary arrest or detention;
                    (F) restrictions on freedom of assembly, 
                association, and movement;
                    (G) pervasive problems with the independence of the 
                judiciary;
                    (H) forced disappearances;
                    (I) serious restrictions on freedom of speech, 
                expression, and the media;
                    (J) severe restrictions on political participation;
                    (K) discrimination against women and gender-based 
                violence;
                    (L) restrictions on religious freedom;
                    (M) serious restrictions on internet freedom; and
                    (N) existence of the worst forms of child labor.
            (2) A description of the steps that the United States 
        Government has taken--
                    (A) to promote respect for and observance of human 
                rights in Azerbaijan and by the Government of 
                Azerbaijan, including in the context of the conflict 
                with Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh);
                    (B) to discourage any practices in Azerbaijan that 
                are inimical to internationally recognized human 
                rights; and
                    (C) to publicly or privately call attention to, and 
                disassociate the United States and any security 
                assistance provided for the Government of Azerbaijan 
                from, any practices described in subparagraph (B).
            (3) An assessment from the Secretary of State, 
        notwithstanding any practices described in paragraph (2)(B), 
        whether extraordinary circumstances exist that necessitate a 
        continuation of security assistance for Azerbaijan.
            (4) If such circumstances exist, a description of the 
        circumstances and the extent to which security assistance 
        should be continued (subject to such conditions as Congress may 
        impose under section 502B of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
        (22 U.S.C. 2304)).
            (5) Other information, including--
                    (A) an assessment from the Secretary of State of 
                the likelihood that United States security assistance 
                (as defined in section 502B(d) of the Foreign 
                Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2304(d))) will be 
                used in support of Azerbaijani activities related to 
                the conflict with Armenia, aggression against Nagorno-
                Karabakh (Artsakh), and the blockade of the Lachin 
                Corridor;
                    (B) a description and assessment of the actions 
                that the United States Government is taking to ensure 
                end use monitoring protocols for all weapons sold or 
                transferred to Azerbaijan;
                    (C) an assessment of the impact of United States 
                assistance provided to Azerbaijan over the past 10 
                years on the balance of power between Azerbaijan and 
                Armenia, and on efforts to negotiate a durable and 
                lasting peace settlement between Armenia and 
                Azerbaijan;
                    (D) a description of the United States Government's 
                efforts to implement the Leahy Law in Azerbaijan and 
                ensure that no units implicated in gross violations of 
                human rights receive United States assistance, 
                including information on units that have been rejected 
                in the Leahy vetting process;
                    (E) an assessment from the Secretary of State of 
                whether ethnic cleansing or genocidal acts are taking 
                place in Nagorno-Karabakh; and
                    (F) a description of any actions that the United 
                States Government is taking to implement sanctions, 
                including sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human 
                Rights Accountability Act and section 7031(c) of the 
                Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related 
                Programs Appropriations Act, to hold accountable 
                Azerbaijani officials responsible for gross violations 
                of human rights or significant corruption.
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