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RESOLUTION NO. ______
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GLENDALE
DEMANDING THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF ARMENIAN
HOSTAGES BY AZERBAIJAN
WHEREAS, Glendale is home to one of the largest concentrations of Armenian immigrants in the United States, among whom are individuals who are immigrants from the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh; and WHEREAS, Azerbaijan’s decades long policy of anti-Armenian actions has resulted in pogroms, war and ethnic cleansing culminating in the 2023 depopulation of the Republic of Artsakh of its Indigenous Armenian populations, desecration and destruction of cultural monuments and the ongoing humanitarian crisis; and WHEREAS, the City of Glendale condemns all forms of violence, torture and inhumane treatment based on the victims’ ethnic identity, and calls for justice and accountability against all individual civilian and military officials responsible for such actions; and
WHEREAS, the City of Glendale stands in solidarity with its Armenian American community and all residents of Glendale of good conscience, in recognizing the ongoing humanitarian crisis involving Armenian hostages held by the government of Azerbaijan, including, but not limited to, the following individuals:
David Babayan, former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Artsakh; Arkady Ghukasyan, former President of the Republic of Artsakh; Arayik Harutyunyan, former President of the Republic of Artsakh; Levon Mnatsakanyan, former Minister of Defense of the Republic of Artsakh; Davit Manukyan, former Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Artsakh; Davit Ishkhanyan, former President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh;
Bako Sahakyan, former President of the Republic of Artsakh; Ruben Vardanyan, former State Minister of the Republic of Artsakh; and also calls for the release and repatriation of the following civilians:
Vicken Euljekjian;
Madat Babayan;
Davit Tigrani Davtyan;
Gevorg Rubeni Sujyan;
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Vaqif Khachatryan;
Rashid Beglaryan; and
The following prisoners of war:
Alyosha Aramayisi Khosrovyan;
Lyudvig Mkrtchyan;
Levon Balayan;
Davit Allahverdyan;
Vasili Beglaryan;
Garik Martirosyan;
Melikset Pashayan;
Gurgen Stepanyan;
Erik Ghazaryan;
Karen Sedraki Petrosyan;
Aleksandr Yeghiasaryan; and
WHEREAS, up to three hundred (300) other hostages are being held in Azerbaijan by the Azerbaijani government; and
WHEREAS, numerous reports and findings from international organizations, including Christian Solidarity International; the Center for Truth and Justice based in Glendale, California; the Armenian National Committee of America; the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention and Human Security, and other entities have documented the illegal detention and torture of Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives by Azerbaijani forces; and
WHEREAS, the nation-state of Azerbaijan’s continued detention of these individuals violates international human rights laws and conventions, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, and all norms of civilized societies that mandate the humane treatment of civilians and prisoners of war; and WHEREAS, the City of Glendale condemns all forms of violence, torture and inhumane treatment based on the victims’ ethnic identity, and calls for justice and accountability against all individual civilian and military officials responsible for such actions; and
WHEREAS, the release of Armenian hostages is essential for the promotion of peace, stability and reconciliation in the South Caucasus region.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GLENDALE:
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SECTION 1. That all Armenian hostages held by the government of Azerbaijan be immediately and unconditionally released.
SECTION 2. That the White House and current Presidential Administration, the United Nations Security Council and the international community apply diplomatic pressure on Azerbaijan to comply with international human rights standards and release the Armenian hostages.
SECTION 3.That the Glendale City Council stands with the Armenian American community in its pursuit of justice and human rights, and will continue to advocate for the humane treatment and release of all hostages in Azerbaijan.
Adopted this ________ day of October, 2024.
_______________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
___________________________________
City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS
CITY OF GLENDALE )
I, Suzie Abajian, Ph.D., City Clerk of the City of Glendale, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution No._________ was adopted by the Council of the City of Glendale, California, at a regular meeting held on the_______ day of October 22, 2024, by the following vote:
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
Abstain:
________________________________
City Clerk