Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32), senior Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Vice Chair of the Congressional Armenia Caucus, issued the following statement marking the anniversary of the 1988 Sumgait Pogroms:
“Today we stand in solidarity with the Armenian American community in commemorating the 1988 Sumgait Pogroms. Thirty-eight years ago, Azerbaijani mobs targeted Armenian residents of Sumgait solely because of their ethnicity, unleashing days of horrific violence that culminated in the murder, rape, and expulsion of ethnic Armenians living in Azerbaijan at the time.
The atrocities in Sumgait were not isolated. They were followed by additional anti-Armenian violence in Kirovabad and Baku.
As we honor and remember the victims of these pogroms, we must also confront the continued dangers of anti-Armenian hatred today. The world witnessed the consequences of unchecked aggression in 2023, when Azerbaijan’s military offensive resulted in the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh’s entire Armenian population and effectively ended their centuries-old presence in the region.
I remain deeply concerned by credible reports of ongoing abuses, including the continued detention of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians, and threats facing Armenian cultural and religious heritage sites. These issues demand sustained international attention and accountability.
The United States must continue to press for the immediate and unconditional release of Armenian detainees, support the protected right of return for displaced Armenians of Artsakh, and work with international partners to safeguard Armenian cultural and religious heritage.
For decades, I have worked with my colleagues in the Congressional Armenia Caucus to hold Azerbaijan accountable and to strengthen the U.S.–Armenia relationship. We must ensure that the lessons of Sumgait are not ignored.
On this solemn anniversary, we remember the victims, stand with the Armenian people, and reaffirm our commitment to preventing anti-Armenian violence wherever it occurs.”
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