Azerbaijan’s parliament, the Milli Majlis, has strongly rejected an amendment adopted by the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee calling for the release of Armenian prisoners, describing it as containing “unfounded accusations” against Azerbaijan and representing “another attempt to use the United States Congress as a tool of political pressure against Azerbaijan in the interests of the Armenian lobby.”

The statement devoted particular attention to the amendment’s author, Democratic Congressman Brad Sherman. The Milli Majlis said Sherman’s activities align with the interests of Armenian organizations and continue the political line pursued by former U.S. Senator Robert Menendez.

The Azerbaijani parliament also criticized former International Criminal Court Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo, German Bundestag member Frank Schwabe, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), accusing them of participating in an international campaign of political pressure against Azerbaijan.

The reference in the amendment to Armenian prisoners of war also drew strong criticism from Baku. Azerbaijani authorities reject that characterization, maintaining that the individuals concerned were convicted by Azerbaijani courts of criminal offenses.

The Milli Majlis warned that such decisions “not only seriously damage relations between Azerbaijan and the United States, but also create obstacles to the peace process in the region.”

TURKPA Also Warns of Risks to the Peace Process

The Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TURKPA) issued a separate statement criticizing the initiative almost simultaneously with the Milli Majlis.

The organization expressed regret that the amendment was introduced at a time when “the process of normalization between Azerbaijan and Armenia is actively progressing.”

TURKPA also said legislative initiatives should be “based on an objective assessment of facts and the principles of international law, rather than the interests of individual lobbying groups.” It urged lawmakers to refrain from actions that could negatively affect the ongoing normalization process between Baku and Yerevan.

What Congress Approved

The amendment was adopted by the House Foreign Affairs Committee. It was introduced by Democratic Congressman Brad Sherman and supported by Committee Chairman Brian Mast, a Republican. The measure passed by a bipartisan vote of 44 to 7.

The amendment expresses the sense of Congress that “Azerbaijan should immediately and unconditionally release all Armenian prisoners of war and political prisoners.”

Following the vote, Sherman said:

“Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee voted 44-7 to approve my amendment calling on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners of war. I am proud that Congress has officially placed itself on record, and I will continue working to secure the release of Armenians whom Azerbaijan is illegally detaining and subjecting to torture and abuse.”

Earlier, while presenting the amendment before the committee in June, Sherman linked the humanitarian issue to President Donald Trump’s efforts to achieve lasting peace in the South Caucasus.

“As President Donald Trump continues his efforts to secure a lasting peace in the South Caucasus, the release of Armenian prisoners of war and political prisoners would be an important step toward achieving that goal,” Sherman said.

However, approval of the amendment does not automatically change U.S. policy. The broader legislation must still proceed through further stages of consideration in both the House of Representatives and the Senate before it can become law.

The bipartisan vote suggests that Congress continues to attach significant importance to the humanitarian dimension of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, even after the end of large-scale hostilities.

Yerevan Remains Silent

Against the backdrop of Baku’s strong response, the Armenian government has so far refrained from publicly commenting on the committee’s decision.

The restraint appears consistent with the ongoing peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In recent months, Armenian officials have largely avoided statements that could be interpreted as complicating the negotiating process or increasing international pressure on Baku.

Congress and the White House: Different Priorities

Equally notable has been the absence of any public reaction from the administration of President Donald Trump.

The Trump administration played a direct role in facilitating negotiations between Baku and Yerevan and has repeatedly presented the Washington peace declaration as one of its major foreign policy achievements.

Against that backdrop, the White House’s silence contrasts with Congress’s activism. While lawmakers have once again focused attention on human rights and the fate of Armenian prisoners of war, the Trump administration has chosen not to engage publicly in the debate.

Human rights concerns appear to have become a less prominent factor in Washington’s relationship with Baku, giving way to broader strategic interests, economic cooperation, and efforts to preserve momentum in the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process.

In that sense, the congressional amendment has become more than another point of disagreement between Washington and Baku. It also underscores that U.S. policy toward the South Caucasus is not monolithic: while Congress continues to emphasize humanitarian issues and human rights, the White House, at least publicly, appears to prioritize diplomatic pragmatism and the preservation of regional stability.