թԹԱթԹ❁թՉթԹԷթԹ, թԹԳթԹ՜թԹ❁թԹէթԹԲթԹ❁թԹԲթԹ§ թԹԵթԹ❁թԹէթԹ՝թԹ❁թԹԲթԹ,թԹեթԹԴթԹթԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ, թԹ՝թԹ❁թԹԲթԹ❁թԹԳթԹ❁թԹ՜թԹԳ թԹ«. The American Interest:______Time for Sanctions on Baku_

թՉթԹ,թԹԳթԹդ թԹ՞թՉ-թՉ❁թԹԲթԹԴթՉթԹէթՉթԹԳ թԹ,թՉ- թԹԴթՉթԹգթԹ❁թԹ)թՉ-թԹԴթՉթԹ.թԹբթԹԴթՉթԹԳթԹ— թԹ՜թԹ(թԹԳթԹէթՉ-թԹԴթԹԳթԹ❁թԹթՉ-թԹ(թԹ- թԹ« թԹթԹ,թՉ-թԹ,թԹ❁թԹբթԹԴթՉթԹԲ թՉ❁ թԹեթՉ-թԹ❁թՉթԹԴթՉթԹԲ թԹ։թԹԴթՉ-թԹ…թԹԴթԹԱ թԹ,թԹեթԹզթԹ-թԹ❁թԹԲթԹ❁թԹ՜թԹ❁թԹԳ թԹԵթԹ(թԹէթԹԴթՉթԹ.թԹբթԹԴթՉթԹԳթԹե թԹ՟թԹԲթԹ§թԹ❁թԹԷթԹԴթՉ-թԹԲթԹ❁թԹԳ թՉ❁ թխթՉթԹ՜թՉ-թԹ❁թԹ,թԹԳթԹ❁թԹբթԹ, թԹաթԹ։թԹԳթԹ❁թԹ՝թԹ❁թԹԲթԹ, թԹԷթՉ-թԹ❁, թԹ՞թԹ)թՉ-թԹ§թԹ(թԹեթԹ❁թԹԳթԹ, թԹԳթԹ❁թԹ՟թԹ❁թԹ։թԹ❁թԹ՛ թԹեթԹ-թԹ՛թԹ❁թԹԲ թԹ՞թԹ-թԹ,թՉ❁թԹ, թԹ՜թԹ❁թԹԶթԹ❁թԹԷթԹ❁թՉ-թԹԴթՉթԹ.թԹբթԹԴթՉթԹԳթԹԳ թԹ—թԹԳթԹ)թԹ-թԹ❁թԹբթԹԳթԹ(թԹ- թԹ« թԹ՞թԹ)թՉ-թԹ§թԹ(թԹեթԹ❁թԹԳթԹԴթՉթԹԲ թԹ❁թԹբթԹ-թԹ❁թԹ՟թԹԴթԹ՛թԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ, թԹԳթԹ՜թԹ❁թԹէթԹԲթԹ❁թԹԲթԹ§ թԹ՛թԹ(թԹէթԹ❁թԹԵթԹԳթԹ)թԹԴթՉթԹԲթԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ—թԹ թԹաթԹԳթԹգթԹԴթՉթԹԲթԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ,, թԹզթԹԵթԹ❁թԹԶթԹԳթԹ❁թԹ-թԹ,թՉթԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ,, թԹ…թԹ(թԹ…թԹ, թՉ❁ թԹ՞թԹ(թՉ-թԹ§թԹ❁թԹ՜թԹ❁թԹ-թԹԴթՉթԹ.թԹբթԹԴթՉթԹԳթԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ, թԹէթԹ(թԹզթՉթԹԴթԹԷ: թԹ՞թԹԳթԹ։թԹ❁թԹԲ թԹ՞թՉթՉ թՉթԹ❁թԹԱթԹ❁թՉթԹ❁թԹթԹ,թԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ— թՉ❁ թԹԲթԹ,թԹեթԹ❁թԹ»թԹ։թԹ❁թԹբթԹ,թԹԳ թԹԴթԹդ թԹ՜թԹ❁թԹԶթԹ❁թԹԷթԹ❁թՉ-թԹ❁թԹ՜թԹ❁թԹԳ թԹ՜թԹ❁թԹ»թԹԲթԹ❁թԹ՜թԹ(թՉ-թԹԵթԹԴթՉթԹ.թԹբթԹԴթՉթԹԳթԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹԳ թԹ(թԹԳ թԹ՛թԹ❁թԹբթԹէթԹԳթԹԷթԹ(թԹ- թԹԶթԹ(թԹԵթՉ-թԹ(թԹզթԹ,թԹ❁թԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ, թԹ—թԹԳթԹ)թԹ-թԹ❁թԹբթԹԳթԹԷթԹԴթԹԱ թԹթԹ❁թԹԳթԹթԹԴթՉթԹԲ, թԹ։թՉ-թԹԴթՉթԹԲ թԹ(թԹԳ թԹԲթՉ❁թԹ,թԹ) թԹէթՉ-թԹ❁թԹԲթԹ(թՉ-թԹ— թՉ❁ թժթԹ,թԹդթԹ❁թՉ-թԹ) թԹէթԹ❁թԹԴթՉթԹ»թԹ-թԹ❁թՉ-թԹ,թԹդթԹ— The American Interest թԹ.թԹ(թՉ-թԹ.թԹԴթՉթԹԲթԹ թԹ՛թԹ❁թԹԷթԹ(թԹ-թԹ(թԹ-թԹԴթԹԷ, թԹԴթՉ- թԹ❁թԹբթԹզ թԹ։թԹԴթՉ-թԹ…թԹԴթԹԱթԹԴթՉթԹ.թԹբթԹԴթՉթԹԳթԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹԳ թԹ❁թՉ-թԹ՞թԹ❁թԹ։թԹ❁թԹԳթՉ թԹ(թԹԳ թԹԵթԹ❁թԹ՛թԹ❁թԹԳթԹեթԹԴթՉթԹԲ:

թԹեթԹԳթԹդթԹԵթԹ(թԹզ թԹԳթԹգթԹԷթԹԴթՉթԹԲ թԹ« թԹ՛թԹԴթԹ)թԹԷթԹ❁թԹ…թԹԴթՉթԹԲ, թԹբթԹԷթՉ-թԹԴթԹԵթԹ❁թԹբթԹ, թԹԷթԹ(թՉ-թԹեթԹ,թԹԳ թԹ§թԹԶթԹԳթԹ❁թԹԵթԹ(թԹէթԹ— թԹ՛թԹ❁թԹԲթԹ❁թՉ-թԹԷթԹԴթԹԱ թԹԱթԹ(թԹ-թԹ❁թԹԶթԹԴթՉթԹզթԹ, թԹ❁թԹԶթԹ❁թԹեթԹԳթԹԴթՉ-թԹ) թԹ՞թԹ-թԹ(թՉթԹզթԹ❁թԹԳթԹ)թՉ- թԹԶթԹԴթՉթԹ՜թԹ❁թԹգթԹ(թԹԳթԹ՜թԹԴթԹբթԹ,թԹ թՉ❁ թժթԹԴթՉթԹզթԹ❁թԹզթԹէթԹ❁թԹԳթԹ, թԹԳթԹ❁թԹ՟թԹ❁թԹ։թԹ❁թԹ՛ թժզթԹ-թԹ❁թԹ)թԹ,թԹԲթԹ,թՉ- թժ թԹԴթՉթԹէթԹ,թԹԳթԹ,թԹ թԹ§թԹ❁թԹթԹ, թԹ❁թԹբթԹ՝թԹԲ թԹէթԹ❁թՉ-թԹ❁թԹ…թԹ❁թԹգթՉ-թԹեթԹ❁թԹԳթԹ, թԹ§թԹԶթԹԳթԹ❁թԹԵթԹ(թԹէթԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ, թԹթԹ❁թԹԳթԹ՜թԹԴթՉթԹԲ թԹ՜թԹ❁թՉ-թԹ(թԹ-թԹ, թԹ« թԹ❁թԹԷթԹ(թԹ-թԹ❁թԹթԹԳթԹ(թԹ- թԹԳթԹ❁թՉ❁ թԹեթԹ-թԹ՛թԹ❁թԹԲ թԹ՞թԹ-թԹ,թՉ❁թԹ, թԹ❁թԹԳթԹԴթՉթԹԳթԹ—: թՉ-թԹԴթԹ)թԹԷթԹ❁թԹ…թԹԴթՉթԹԲ թԹ—թԹԳթԹ)թԹ։թԹ…թԹԷթԹԴթՉթԹԲ թԹ«, թԹԴթՉ- թԹ՞թԹ(թՉ-թԹ§թԹ❁թԹ՜թԹ❁թԹ-թԹԴթՉթԹ.թԹբթԹԴթՉթԹԳթԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ, թԹԲթԹ, թԹ❁թԹԲթԹ§թԹԴթԹԱթԹե թԹգթԹ❁թՉ-թՉթԹ,թԹ թԹ՛թԹ(թԹէթԹԴ թԹ՞թԹ-թԹ,թՉ❁թԹ, թԹ՜թԹ❁թԹԶթԹ❁թԹԷթԹ❁թՉ-թԹԴթՉթԹ.թԹբթԹԴթՉթԹԳթԹԳ թԹ❁թԹբթԹ՝թԹԲ թԹԵթԹ❁թԹ՛թԹԴթՉթԹԲ թԹ« թԹԲթԹԴթԹէ 100 թՉթԹ❁թԹԱթԹ§թԹ❁թԹԳթԹէթԹ❁թՉ-թԹ՜թԹբթԹ❁թԹ-թԹ թԹ՜թՉ-թԹ՜թԹԳթԹ❁թԹ՜թԹ, թԹ❁թԹԷթԹ(թԹ-թԹ,, թՉթԹ❁թԹԳ թԹԱթԹ(թԹ-թԹ❁թԹԶթԹԴթՉթԹզթԹԴթՉթԹԲ թՉ❁ թժթԹԴթՉթԹզթԹ❁թԹզթԹէթԹ❁թԹԳթԹԴթՉթԹԲ թԹԲթԹ,թԹ❁թԹզթԹ,թԹԳ թԹԷթԹ(թՉ-թԹթԹԷթԹ❁թԹ…:

թԹ՞թՉ-թՉ❁թԹԲթԹէթԹբթԹ❁թԹԳ թՉ❁ թԹԲթԹ,թԹեթԹ❁թԹ»թԹ։թԹ❁թԹբթԹ,թԹԳ թԹԵթԹ❁թԹգթԹէթԹԴթԹԳթԹբթԹ❁թԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ, թՉ❁ թԹ՜թԹ❁թԹ»թԹԲթԹ❁թԹ՜թԹ(թՉ-թԹԵթԹԴթՉթԹ.թԹբթԹԴթՉթԹԳթԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ, թԹ՛թԹԳթԹդթԹ(թԹթՉ-թԹ❁թԹ… թԹԲթԹէթԹ❁թԹ՛թԹԴթԹ։թԹ,թԹդ թՉ❁ թՉթԹԳթԹԳթԹ❁թԹ)թԹ❁թԹէթԹ❁թԹ՜թԹ❁թԹԳ թԹ՛թԹ❁թԹբթԹէթԹ❁թՉ-թԹ❁թՉ-թԹԴթՉթԹ.թԹբթԹԴթՉթԹԳթԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ— թԹԴթԹդ թԹԲթԹ, թԹ❁թՉ-թԹ՞թԹ❁թԹ։թԹ❁թԹԳթՉ թԹդթԹ(թԹԳ թԹզթԹէթԹ❁թԹթԹ(թԹ- թԹԱթԹ❁թՉթԹԷթԹԴթՉթԹԲ, թԹ❁թԹԳթԹ։թԹ❁թԹԲ թՉ-թԹէ-թԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ, թԹԳթԹ՜թԹ❁թԹէթԹԲթԹ❁թԹԲթԹ§ թԹ՞թԹ)թՉ-թԹ§թԹ(թԹեթԹ❁թԹԳթԹ, թԹԷթԹ(թՉ-թԹ❁թԹ§թԹ(թՉ-թԹԲթԹԴթՉթԹԳթՉթԹ, թԹԷթԹ(թՉ-թԹ❁թԹ§թԹ(թՉ-թԹբթԹ❁թԹ- թԹԷթԹ(թՉ-թԹեթԹ(թՉ-թԹզ թԹ՞թՉթՉ թԹԳթԹ❁թԹ՟թԹ❁թԹ։թԹ❁թԹ՛ թԹԱթԹ❁թՉ-թԹ❁թՉ թՉ§թԹ§թԹ❁թԹԲթԹ❁թԹբթԹ, թԹ՜թԹԴթԹԱթԹԲթԹ,թԹ թԹ՛թԹԳթԹդթԹ❁թԹ… թՉթԹԳթԹԳթԹ❁թԹ)թԹ❁թԹէթԹԴթՉթԹ.թԹբթԹԴթՉթԹԳթԹ— թԹԴթԹդ թԹԲթԹ, թԹ❁թԹ»թԹ)թԹ(թԹթԹԴթՉթԹ.թԹբթԹԴթՉթԹԳ թԹդթԹ, թԹ.թԹԴթԹԱթԹ(թԹ-, թԹԳթԹգթԹԴթՉթԹԲ թԹ(թԹԳ թԹ՛թԹԴթԹ)թԹԷթԹ❁թԹ…թԹ❁թԹ։թԹ,թՉ-թԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ—թԹ թԹ՛թԹ❁թԹԷթԹ(թԹ-թԹ(թԹ-թԹԴթԹԷ, թԹԴթՉ- թԹ—թԹԳթԹ)թԹ՛թԹ❁թԹ՜թԹ❁թԹԶթԹ❁թԹ՜թԹ—, թԹ❁թԹբթԹ՝թԹԲ թԹ❁թՉ-թԹ)թԹ(թԹԳ թԹէթԹ(թԹԱթԹ(թԹ՜թԹԴթՉթԹ.թԹբթԹԴթՉթԹԳթԹԳթԹ(թՉ- թԹ՜թԹ❁թԹԳ, թԹԴթՉ- թԹ(թՉ-թԹ՜թՉ-թԹ, թԹ,թԹգթԹ՟թԹ❁թԹԳթԹԴթՉթԹ.թԹբթԹԴթՉթԹԳթԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ— թԹԵթԹ❁թԹէթՉ-թԹ❁թԹզթԹէթԹԷթԹԴթՉթԹԲ թԹ(թԹԳ թԹԱթԹ❁թՉթԹԴթՉ թԹԷթԹ(թՉ-թԹ❁թԹ)թԹ❁թԹԶթԹԳթԹ❁թԹ-թԹԴթՉթԹԳ թԹԵթԹ(թԹզ թԹ՞թԹ(թՉ-թԹ§թԹ❁թԹ՜թԹ❁թԹ-թԹ(թԹ- թԹ՛թԹ(թԹէթԹ❁թՉթԹԳթԹԳթԹԴթԹԱ թԹ-թՉ-թԹ❁թԹ։թՉ-թԹԴթԹԱ թԹզթԹ❁թԹ)թԹ,թԹեթԹ❁ թԹեթԹզթԹԲթԹ❁թԹ,թԹ-թԹԴթԹԷթԹ❁թԹբթԹ,թԹԳ:

թԹ՞թԹբթԹզ թԹԲթԹէթԹ❁թԹ՛թԹԴթԹ։թԹ,թԹդ թԹԲթԹ,թԹէթԹԴթՉթԹԲթԹ— թԹգթՉ-թԹեթԹ(թԹ- թԻթԹԴթՉ-թԹ՞թԹ(թԹ-թԹԴթՉ թԹ-թԹ❁թԹԷթԹ❁թԹ։թԹԴթՉթԹբթԹԳ թԹաթԹ❁թԹԳթԹ❁թԹԵթԹ❁թՉ-թԹ՛թԹ— թԹ՜թԹ-թԹ,թԹԳթԹ, թԹ՞թԹ-թԹ,թՉ❁թԹ, թԹԷթԹ❁թՉ-թԹդթԹ❁թԹ՜թԹ❁թՉ-թԹ։թԹ, թԹԳթԹ՜թԹ❁թԹէթԹԲթԹ❁թԹԲթԹ§ թԹԵթԹ❁թԹէթԹ՝թԹ❁թԹԲթԹ,թԹեթԹԴթԹթԹԳթԹ(թՉ- թԹզթԹ❁թԹ՛թԹԲթԹ❁թԹԳթԹ(թԹ-թԹ—, թԹԵթԹԳթԹ)թԹԴթՉթԹԲ թԹ(թԹԳ թԹ՛թԹԴթԹ)թԹԷթԹ❁թԹ…թԹ❁թԹ։թԹ,թՉ-թԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ—:

թՉ-թԹ(թԹԱթԹ,թԹԳթԹ❁թԹ՜թԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹԳ թԹ❁թԹբթԹԳթԹԴթՉթԹ՛թԹ(թԹէ թԹ՛թԹ,թԹգթԹ❁թԹէթԹ❁թԹ՜թԹԴթՉթԹԲ թԹ(թԹԳ թԹ❁թԹ)թՉ-թԹ§թԹ(թԹեթԹ❁թԹԳթԹթԹ, թԹ,թՉ-թԹ❁թԹԷթԹ❁թԹԵթԹ❁թԹգթԹէթԹԵթԹ❁թԹԳթԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ, թՉ❁ թԹ❁թԹ՜թԹէթԹ,թԹԷթԹ,թԹզթԹէթԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ, թԹ՞թԹ(թՉ-թԹ§թԹ❁թԹ՜թԹ❁թԹ-թԹԴթՉթԹ.թԹբթԹԴթՉթԹԳթԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ— (թԹԶթԹ(թԹբթԹ-թԹ❁ թՉ❁ թԹ՞թՉ-թԹ,թՉ թՉ»թԹԴթՉթԹԳթԹԴթՉթԹզթԹԳթԹ(թՉ-, թԹեթԹ-թԹ։թԹ❁թՉ- թՉ թԹ❁թԹզթԹ,թԹ§թԹԴթԹԷ, թԹ❁թԹբթԹ-թՉ), թԹ,թԹԳթԹդթԹԵթԹ(թԹզ թԹԳթԹ❁թՉ❁ թԹԲթԹ,թԹեթԹ❁թԹ»թԹ։թԹ❁թԹբթԹ,թԹԳ թԹ՜թԹ❁թԹ»թԹԲթԹ❁թԹ՜թԹ(թՉ-թԹԵթԹԴթՉթԹ.թԹբթԹԴթՉթԹԳթԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ, թՉ❁ թԹԳթՉ-թԹ❁թԹԳթԹ թԹ❁թԹգթԹ՟թԹ❁թԹէթԹ❁թԹ՜թԹ,թԹթԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ, թԹԳթԹ՜թԹ❁թԹէթԹԲթԹ❁թԹԲթԹ§ թԹաթԹԳթԹգթԹԴթՉթԹԲթԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ—, թԹ՞թՉթՉ թԹ,թԹգթԹ՟թԹ❁թԹԳթԹԴթՉթԹ.թԹբթԹԴթՉթԹԳթԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ, թԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ՜թԹ❁թԹբթԹ❁թԹթԹԴթՉթԹթԹ,թԹդթԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ, թԹԳթԹ՜թԹ❁թԹէթԹԲթԹ❁թԹԲթԹ§ թԹ՛թԹԳթԹդթԹ❁թԹ… թԹԷթԹ,թՉ-թԹ❁թԹԷթԹԴթՉ-թԹ❁թԹ՜թԹ❁թԹԳ թԹ❁թՉ-թԹէթԹ❁թԹ՛թԹ❁թԹբթԹէթԹԴթՉթԹ.թԹբթԹԴթՉթԹԳթԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ— թՉ❁ թԹ՛թԹ❁թՉ-թԹ՞թԹ❁թԹ՜թԹԴթՉթԹԲթԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ—:

թԹթԹ❁թՉ-թԹ,թԹԳթԹ(թՉ- թԹգթԹ❁թՉ-թԹԴթՉթԹԳթԹ❁թԹ՜ թԹ՞թԹ)թՉ-թԹ§թԹ(թԹեթԹ❁թԹԳթԹ, թԹԳթԹ❁թԹԷթԹ.թԹ, թԹԴթՉ թԹ։թԹ❁թԹ»թԹ, թԹԵթԹ❁թԹգթԹ❁թՉ-թԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ— թԹ(թՉ-թԹ՜թԹ,թՉ-թԹ— թԹԵթԹ❁թԹգթԹէթԹԵթԹ❁թԹԳթԹ(թԹ- թԹ(թԹԳ թԹ❁թԹբթԹԳթԹէթԹ(թԹԱ թԹէթԹ,թՉ-թԹԴթԹԱ թԹԲթԹ❁թՉ-թԹ)թԹԴթՉ թԹ,թՉ-թԹ❁թԹԷթԹԴթՉթԹԳթՉթԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ, թԹզթԹ❁թՉ-թԹզթԹ❁թԻթԹ(թԹ-թԹ, թԹ,թՉ-թԹ❁թԹԷթԹ,թԹաթԹ❁թԹ՜թԹ— թԹԲթԹ(թՉ-թԹ՜թԹ❁թԹթԹԳթԹ(թԹ-թԹԴթՉթԹ, թԹԳթԹգթԹԴթՉթԹԲ թԹ(թԹԳ թԹ՛թԹ(թԹԱթԹ,թԹԳթԹ❁թԹ՜թԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ—թԹ թԹ՛թԹ❁թԹԷթԹ(թԹ-թԹ(թԹ-թԹԴթԹԷ, թԹԴթՉ- թԹ❁թԹԳթԹ։թԹ❁թԹԲ թԹ❁թԹԳթԹթԹ❁թԹ… թԹ❁թԹԲթԹ,թԹզ թՉ թԹ՞թԹթՉ§-թԹ, թԹ։թԹ❁թԹ։թԹ❁թԹ.թԹ❁թԹ՝թԹԴթԹԱթԹԴթԹԷթԹ,թԹԳ թԹ՞թԹ)թՉ-թԹ§թԹ(թԹեթԹ❁թԹԳթԹԳ թԹ❁թԹԶթԹ❁թԹեթԹ❁թՉ-թԹ՜թԹ(թԹ- թԹ« թԹԲթԹ❁թԹզթԹԳթԹ❁թԹ՜թԹթԹ(թԹ- թԹ՞թՉ թԹԱթԹ❁թԹԳթԹզթԹէթԹ❁թԹԳթԹԴթՉթԹԲ թԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ)թՉ-թԹԴթՉթԹԲթԹ❁թԹբթԹ,թԹԳ թՉ❁ թԹԷթԹ(թՉ-թԹ❁թԹԳթԹԴթՉ-թԹԴթԹ։թԹԲթԹ❁թԹԳ թԹ…թՉ-թԹ❁թԹ։թՉ-թԹ(թՉ-թԹ,թԹ թԹ՛թԹԴթՉթԹբթԹզ թԹԴթՉթԹԳթԹ(թԹԳթԹ❁թԹ-թԹԴթԹԷ, թԹԴթՉ- թԹ)թՉ-թԹ❁ թԹգթԹԳթԹԴթՉ-թԹ՛թԹ,թԹԷ թԹ՜թԹ՜թԹ❁թՉ-թԹԴթԹԱթԹ❁թԹԳթԹ❁ թԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թՉթԹ,թԹԳ թԹ,թՉ-թԹ❁թԹԷթԹ,թԹաթԹ❁թԹ՜թԹ, թԹ❁թԹԶթԹԳթԹդթԹԴթՉթԹ.թԹբթԹ❁թԹԲթԹ§ թԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹԴթԹԱթԹ❁թԹԲթԹ,թԹէ թԹ)թԹ,թՉ-թՉթԹԴթՉ-թԹԴթԹգթԹԴթՉթԹԲ թԹ,թԹ։թԹԳթԹ(թԹ-թԹե: թԹ,թԹ՞թԹ)թՉ-թԹ§թԹ(թԹեթԹ❁թԹԳթԹ— թԹԳթԹ❁թՉ❁ թԹ«թԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ։թԹ,թԹ❁թԹբթԹ, թԹ❁թՉ-թԹէթԹ❁թԹ՛թԹ❁թԹԳթԹԴթՉթԹԲթԹ,թԹ թԹԷթԹ❁թԹզթԹէթԹ❁թԹ՜թԹ❁թԹ… թԹ՛թԹզթԹ՜թԹ❁թԹբթԹ❁թԹ՜թԹ❁թԹԳ թԹ։թԹԴթՉթԹԲթԹ❁թՉ-թԹԳթԹ(թՉ- թԹ« թԹ…թԹ❁թԹ՟թԹզթԹ(թԹ- թԹ՞թՉ-թՉ❁թԹԲթԹԴթՉթԹէթՉթԹԴթՉթԹԲ թԹ❁թԹ»թԹ)թԹ(թԹթԹԴթՉթԹ.թԹբթԹԴթՉթԹԳ թՉ❁ թԹ—թԹԳթԹ՜թԹ(թՉ-թԹԳթԹ(թՉ- թԹ։թԹԳթԹ(թԹ-թԹԴթՉ թԹ՛թԹ❁թԹԲթԹ❁թՉ-թԹե,- թԹ։թՉ-թԹԷթԹ❁թԹ… թԹ« թԹ՛թԹԴթԹ)թԹԷթԹ❁թԹ…թԹԴթՉթԹԲ:

թՉ՛թԹԳթԹ❁թԹբթԹ❁թԹ… թԹ§թԹ❁թՉ-թԹ) թԹէթԹ❁թՉ-թԹ❁թԹ…թԹ❁թԹգթՉ-թԹեթԹ❁թԹԳթԹԴթՉթԹԲ թԹ։թԹէթԹԳթԹԷթԹ(թԹ-թԹԴթՉ թԹ՞թԹ)թՉ-թԹ§թԹ(թԹեթԹ❁թԹԳթԹ, թԹ§թԹ(թՉ-թԹ❁թԹ… թԻթԹ❁թԹզթԹէթԹ❁թՉ-թԹ՜թԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ,թԹԳթԹ թԹ՛թԹ(թԹԱթԹ,թԹԳթԹ❁թԹ՜թԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ— թԹ՛թԹ❁թԹԲթԹԴթԹ»թԹԷթԹ❁թԹ… թԹ(թԹԳ, թԹԴթՉ- թԹ❁թԹգթԹ՟թԹ❁թՉ-թԹ՛թԹ❁թՉթԹ❁թԹԱթԹ❁թՉթԹ❁թԹ՜թԹ❁թԹԳթԹԴթՉթԹ.թԹբթԹԴթՉթԹԳթԹ— թԹդթԹԵթԹ(թԹէթՉ թԹ« թԹ՞թԹ)թՉ-թԹ§թԹ(թԹեթԹ❁թԹԳթԹ,թԹԳ թԹԵթԹ❁թԹգթԹէթԹԵթԹ❁թԹԳթԹ, թԹ,թՉ- թՉթԹ❁թԹԱթԹ❁թՉթԹ❁թԹթԹ,թԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ,թԹԳ թՉ❁ թԹ❁թՉ-թՉ❁թԹԲթԹէթԹբթԹ❁թԹԳ թԹ՜թԹ❁թԹ»թԹԲթԹ❁թԹ՜թԹ(թՉ-թԹԵթԹԴթՉթԹ.թԹբթԹԴթՉթԹԳթԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ,թԹԳ թԹ՛թԹ❁թԹԳթԹթԹ❁թԹ։թԹԴթՉ-թԹ…թԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ, թԹԵթԹ(թԹզ թԹԷթԹ(թՉ-թԹ❁թԹ§թԹ(թՉ-թԹ(թԹ-թԹԴթՉ թՉթԹԳթԹԳթԹ❁թԹ)թԹ❁թԹէթԹԴթՉթԹ.թԹբթԹԴթՉթԹԳթԹ,թԹ:

թՉ-թԹ(թԹԱթԹ,թԹԳթԹ❁թԹ՜թԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ, թԹ՟թԹԴթԹզթՉթԹ(թՉ-թԹԴթԹԷթԹ թԹ՝թԹ❁թԹԲթԹ❁թԹԳթԹ❁թԹ՜թԹԳ թԹ«, թԹԴթՉ- թԹ՞թՉթՉ -թԹԳ թԹԱթԹ❁թՉթԹԷթԹ, թԹ,թԹգթԹ՟թԹ❁թԹԳթԹԴթՉթԹ.թԹբթԹԴթՉթԹԳթԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ, թԹԳթԹ՜թԹ❁թԹէթԹԲթԹ❁թԹԲթԹ§ թՉ»թՉ-թԹ(թԹԳթՉ թԹզթԹ❁թԹ՛թԹԲթԹ❁թԹԳթԹ,թԹ 2012 թԹ.թԹԷթԹ❁թԹ՜թԹ❁թԹԳթԹ, թԹթԹ(թՉ-թԹ։թԹ(թԹբ թՉթԹ❁թԹ։թԹԳթԹ,թԹէթԹզթԹ՜թԹԴթՉ թՉ»թՉ-թԹ(թԹԳթՉթԹ, թՉ»թՉ-թԹ,թԹԳթԹ❁թԹ՜թԹԴթԹԷ: թՉ թՉ-թԹ❁թԹԳթՉ թԹԳթԹ❁թՉ❁ թԹ՜թԹԴթԹդ թԹ(թԹԳ թԹ❁թԹԳթԹԴթՉթԹԲ թժ թԹ(թԹէթԹ)թԹ(թԹԵթԹ❁թՉ-թԹէթԹ❁թԹԲթԹ(թԹԳթԹէթԹ,թԹԳ թԹաթԹ❁թԹԳթԹ❁թԹԵթԹ❁թՉ-թԹ՛թԹԴթՉ-թԹ)թԹ❁թԹ՜թԹ❁թԹԳ թԹ»թԹ։թԹԴթՉթԹգթԹ❁թԹթԹԴթՉթԹԲ թԹ՛թԹ❁թԹբթԹէթԹ❁թՉ-թԹ❁թՉ-թԹ(թԹ- թԹ՞թՉթՉ թՉթԹ❁թԹԱթԹ❁թՉթԹ❁թԹթԹ,թԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ, թԹ՛թԹ❁թԹԲթԹ❁թՉ-թԹ թԹ»թԹ։թԹԴթՉթԹգթԹ❁թԹթԹԳթԹ(թԹ-թԹԴթԹԷ թԹ՛թԹԳթԹ❁թՉ-թԹ❁թԹԷթԹԴթՉ- թԹաթԹԳթԹգթԹԴթՉթԹԲթԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ, թՉ❁ թԹ՞թԹ(թՉ-թԹ§թԹ❁թԹ՜թԹ❁թԹ-թԹԴթՉթԹ.թԹբթԹԴթՉթԹԳթԹԳթԹ(թՉ-թԹ, թԹԲթԹ❁թԹզթԹ,թԹԳ:

tert.am

The Caucasus Time for Sanctions on Baku

David J. Kramer and Richard Kauzlarich

As the West has turned its attention to the Islamic State and the Ukraine crisis, the government of President Ilham Aliyev has expanded its crackdown on dissenting voices in Azerbaijan with harassment, threats, beatings, and arrests. Even American citizens and international NGOs have bet caught up in the widening net of repression. These actions demand a response.

Published on October 2, 2014

For years, Belarusթ§Չ-Չ§s leader Alexander Lukashenka has been called Europeթ§Չ-Չ§s last dictator, although Vladimir Putin is giving Lukashenka a run for his money, amidst the worst crackdown on human rights in Russia in decades. And now we might also add another leader in the region to the list: President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan.

After an accelerating series of arrests, Aliyevթ§Չ-Չ§s government now holds nearly 100 political prisoners, roughly double the number in Belarus and Russia combined. Beyond the raw numbers, Azerbaijanթ§Չ-Չ§s authorities are also getting more thuggish in their handling of critics, journalists, and opposition figuresթ§Չ-Չas well as Westerners.

Statements of concern and criticism from Western and international officials and organizations have fallen on deaf ears in Baku. Even President Obamaթ§Չ-Չ§s recent criticism of Azerbaijanթ§Չ-Չ§s treatment of NGOs made no impact. To the contrary, there are now credible reports that the Azerbaijani authorities plan to arrest investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova when she returns to Baku from a trip abroad. The best way to try to reverse this disturbing trend is to impose penalties on the Aliyev regime for its outrageous treatment of its own people.

Among the most egregious abuses are the July 30 arrests of civil society activists Leyla and Arif Yunus, accused of spying for Armenian secret servicesթ§Չ-Չimplausible charges linked to the decades-old dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh. On August 20, journalist Ilgar Nasibov was savagely beaten into a state of unconsciousness while he was in the office of a rights organization in the Naxcivan region. Several leading opposition figuresթ§Չ-Չincluding Ilgar Mamedov of the opposition movement REAL and Tofig Yakublu of Musavatթ§Չ-Չlanguish in prison on unsubstantiated charges.

American citizens and organizations are not immune from Azerbaijanթ§Չ-Չ§s heavy-handed intolerance of dissenting voices. Said Nuri, an American citizen of Azerbaijani origin, was recently blocked for nearly a week from leaving Baku, after visiting his ailing father. The local offices of several American and international non-governmental organizations have been raided and/or their bank accounts frozen, and their employees harassed including IREX, the National Democratic Institute, Transparency International, and Oxfam. Several grantees of the National Endowment for Democracy have been arrested, and numerous others have had their accounts frozen.

Azerbaijanթ§Չ-Չ§s smear campaign has included U.S. officials, too. Recently departed U.S. Ambassador Richard Morningstar was subjected to various personal attacks by Azerbaijani government representatives, including the Chief of the Presidential Administration, Ramiz Mehdiyev. Senate staffers during a visit to Baku earlier this year were called թ§Չ-ժdogsթ§Չ-Թ by a prosecutor and թ§Չ-ժspiesթ§Չ-Թ by a parliamentarian after meeting with Khadija Ismayilova.

Any individual or organization that criticizes Aliyev or promotes democracy is viewed as hostile. Mehdiyev has characterized independent media as թ§Չ-ժanti-Azerbaijani forcesթ§Չ-Թ financed from abroad.

The Council of Europeթ§Չ-Չ§s human rights chief, Nils Muiznieks, slammed the Azerbaijani government earlier this month for the թ§Չ-ժtotally unacceptableթ§Չ-Թ human rights situation, which, he said, թ§Չ-ժflies in the face of the human rights obligations undertaken by Azerbaijanթ§Չ-Թ as a member of the Council. In August, several UN human rights envoys said they were թ§Չ-ժappalledթ§Չ-Թ by the growing number of abuses and arrests of rights activists թ§Չ-ժon the basis of trumped-up charges.թ§Չ-Թ The թ§Չ-ժcriminalization of rights activists must stop,թ§Չ-Թ they declared, calling for the release of the Yunuses and others.

For years, Azerbaijanթ§Չ-Չ§s oil and gas reserves insulated the country from exposure for its abysmal human rights record. The Westթ§Չ-Չ§s attention lately has been focused on the Russia-Ukraine crisis and the challenge of the Islamic State, giving the Aliyev regime a sense that it can get away with its crackdown. To be safe, at last monthթ§Չ-Չ§s NATO summit it offered to take part in investment and reconstruction projects in Afghanistan, betting that contributions to the allied effort would buy it a pass on its internal situation. Azerbaijan has also thrown around lots of the money it has earned from energy exports to buy influence and friends in the West.

Azerbaijani authorities often argue that they live in a tough neighborhoodթ§Չ-Չsandwiched between Russia and Iran and with an unresolved conflict with Armeniaթ§Չ-Չand that this should excuse them for their behavior. Geopolitics, however, shouldnթ§Չ-Չ§t shield Azerbaijan from criticism for treating its citizens and Western organizations as criminals.

Itթ§Չ-Չ§s time, therefore, for the United States to apply a law modeled on the 2012 Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law and Accountability Act to authorities in Baku. A number of Azerbaijani activists have called for such measures. Given the reported assets the Aliyev family and its circle hold overseas, freezing their assets and denying them access and travel to the West might just do the trick. The State Department should also issue a travel warning to American citizens alerting them of the surveillance, harassment, and possible detention they might face in Azerbaijan.

At a time when Vladimir Putin is continuing Russiaթ§Չ-Չ§s aggression against Ukraine, some will argue that, for geopolitical reasons, this is not the time for the United States to get tough on Azerbaijan. There is never a good time to take such steps, but the situation inside Azerbaijan demands a response now. Further Western expressions of թ§Չ-ժconcernթ§Չ-Թ or characterizations of the situation as թ§Չ-ժunacceptableթ§Չ-Թ would sound increasingly hollow. The Aliyev regime must understand that there are consequences for its abuses.

http://www.the-american-interest.com/articles/2014/10/02/time-for-sanctions-on-baku/