Baku: Azerbaijani NGOs have sent a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives expressing concern over an amendment proposed by Representative Brad Sherman. The amendment calls for the immediate and unconditional release of individuals described as 'Armenian prisoners of war and political prisoners' by Azerbaijan.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the letter, signed by representatives of Azerbaijani civil society, human rights advocates, and survivors of ethnic cleansing, emphasizes that the individuals in question have been found guilty by the Azerbaijani Court for serious crimes including war crimes, terrorism, and ethnic cleansing. The letter argues that Azerbaijan has the right and responsibility to prosecute such crimes under both domestic and international law, and the court proceedings were conducted with due process.

The letter contends that demands for the unconditional release of these individuals interfere with Azerbaijan's independent judicial process and disregard final court decisions. It also challenges the characterization of these individuals as 'prisoners of war' or 'political prisoners', asserting that such terms do not accurately represent the nature of their crimes.

The letter further questions the timing and intent of Representative Sherman's initiative, especially in light of the historic Washington summit of August 2025, where Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a Joint Declaration and initialed a peace treaty. The NGOs stress that peace and normalization efforts between the two countries are progressing, including the launch of the 'Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity' (TRIPP) project.

The Azerbaijani civil society representatives call on Representative Sherman to respect Azerbaijan's judicial independence and cease actions that could undermine peace efforts. They emphasize the need for justice and accountability to advance alongside reconciliation and peace, asserting that lasting peace cannot be achieved without justice.