To The Honorable Chris Smith

The Honorable Chris Smith
U.S. House of Representatives
2373 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Representative Smith,

On behalf of the Azerbaijani Diaspora community in New Jersey and across the United States, we write to respectfully express our concern regarding the mischaracterization of recent events in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan as “genocide” against the ethnic Armenian population.

As you may know, following Azerbaijan’s restoration of constitutional order in the Karabakh region in 2023, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, a large portion of the local ethnic Armenian population chose to relocate to Armenia. While this decision undoubtedly reflected deep and long-standing tensions, the reality of their departure has been consistently misrepresented in certain circles and forums, including, regrettably, by some public officials of the United States.

Contrary to allegations of ethnic cleansing or genocide, there has been no verified evidence of harm or harassment inflicted upon ethnic Armenians during their departure. On the contrary, all credible, independent reporting at the time, including coverage by international observers and media, indicated that the evacuation was voluntary. There have been no substantiated complaints from those who left claiming abuse or persecution. In fact, the Armenian government itself confirmed that no direct acts of violence occurred during the process.

To call such a situation “genocide” not only misuses one of the most serious terms in the lexicon of international law and human rights, it also undermines the credibility of genuine genocide claims worldwide. It diverts attention from actual atrocities that require urgent global response and damages the potential for future reconciliation between communities. It's not only irresponsible but potentially harmful to label something based solely on hearsay, especially when there's no substantial evidence to support it.

Congressman Smith, by labeling the events in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan as “genocide” without substantiated evidence and established facts and international assessments, you risk undermining your own credibility by making a claim that is both easily disputed and lacks broad international consensus.

We acknowledge that many ethnic Armenians left their homes out of a personal reluctance to live as citizens of Azerbaijan, despite the guarantees offered by the Azerbaijani government regarding their rights and safety. While such decisions are understandable given the history of the conflict, they do not in themselves constitute evidence of genocide or systematic persecution.

Congressman Smith, we know of your longstanding commitment to human rights and truth. It is in this spirit that we urge you and your colleagues to approach this matter with the care and precision it demands. The Azerbaijani-American community is committed to peace, coexistence, and mutual understanding between peoples. We believe that misrepresenting the facts of what happened in Karabakh does a disservice not only to justice but to the long-term peace process in the South Caucasus.

We, respectfully request an opportunity to meet with you and your staff to discuss matters of importance to our community, both here in the United States and abroad. We are proud Americans who contribute to the cultural, economic, and civic fabric of our country, and we are eager to engage with your office to share our perspectives and concerns. We are happy to meet at your convenience. Please let us know a suitable time and we will coordinate accordingly.

Thank you for your continued service to our community and for considering this request. We look forward to the opportunity to speak with you.

Respectfully,        

Azerbaijan Society of America

On behalf of the Azerbaijani Diaspora of New Jersey and the United States