House committee votes to demand Azerbaijan release Armenian hostages

The House Foreign Affairs Committee voted 44-7 on July 22 to call for Azerbaijan's immediate and unconditional release of all Armenian prisoners of war and political prisoners. The bipartisan amendment, led by Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) and backed by Committee Chairman Brian Mast (R-FL), passed as an amendment to the House Foreign Service Act.

Sherman said the vote puts Congress on record supporting the release of Armenians "unjustly and illegally held, tortured, and abused by Azerbaijan." The Armenian National Committee of America backed the measure, calling hostage release a precondition for lasting peace in the region.

Forty-four representatives voted in favor, while seven Republicans opposed it. The amendment was modified in June markup to remove language regarding enforcement of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, which secured Chairman Mast's support.