During the hearing of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the US Congress on the protection of the population of Nagorno Karabakh, the co-chairman of the commission Christopher Smith expressed his concern that there is a tense situation in the region, the ceasefire is regularly violated, and Azerbaijan is trying to gain military supremacy over Nagorno Karabakh with the support of the Turkish government.
"Since 2020, Azerbaijan has been tightening the ring around Nagorno Karabakh, they have even occupied the territories of Armenia itself. The government of Azerbaijan also violated the agreements reached by blocking the Lachin Corridor. Since the US government is negotiating with the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia, we in Congress are obliged to ask what guarantees the people of Nagorno Karabakh can get. Our country simply cannot accept the threat of genocide or ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh. The United States must hold Baku accountable", Smith said in his speech.
