US Congressman Adam Schiff Commemorates 22nd Anniversary of Sumgait Pogroms

US member of Congress Adam Schiff (D-CA) Tuesday released a statement commemorating the twenty-second anniversary of the Sumgait Pogrom, the 3-day massacre in the winter of 1988 that resulted in the deaths of scores of Armenians, reports Asbarez.com.

His statement, in part, reads:

“This past Sunday marked the twenty-second anniversary of the pogrom against Azerbaijanis of Armenian descent in the town of Sumgait, Azerbaijan. The 3-day massacre in the winter of 1988 resulted in the deaths of scores of Armenians, many of whom were burnt to death after being brutally beaten and tortured…

“These crimes, which were proceeded by a wave of anti-Armenian rallies throughout Azerbaijan, were never adequately prosecuted by Azerbaijan authorities. Many who organized or participated in the bloodshed have gone on to serve in high positions on the Azeri government…

“This April will mark the 95th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, a crime that Azerbaijan’s ally and protector Tukey has devoted enormous political resources to deny. Just as we cannot allow the first genocide of the twentieth century to fade into history, the memory of the victims of Sumgait must not be forgotten either.”