California State Senator Anthony Portantino on Monday sat down with Asbarez Executive Editor Ara Khachatourian to discuss his recent two-week trip to Armenia.
Portantino said that while in Armenia he gave lectures to students at the American University of Armenia and was a panelist on a human rights conference that addressed the plight of forcibly displaced Artsakh Armenians and the Artsakh officials currently being imprisoned in Baku.
He explained that, during his trip, he met with U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Kristina Kvien and pressed her to work diligently to free the government officials illegally being held by Azerbaijan in the aftermath of the violent forced exodus of the ethnic Armenian population of Artsakh.
“Having broken bread with the proud Artsakh leaders when I was in Stepanakert and then hosting them in my Glendale office, it was important for me to strongly advocate for our United States diplomats to do everything possible to facilitate the safe release and return of hostages being held illegally by Azerbaijan,” Portantino said upon his return from Armenia.
“Driving people from their homeland is despicable enough. Freeing illegally held hostages is an effort the entire international community should unite behind,” Portantino emphasized.
At the invitation of Human Rights Defender Artak Beglaryan, Portantino is the only U.S. state or federal elected official to have spent time in Artsakh after the 2020 war. To venture into Artsakh, Portantino had to pass through eleven military check points.
Portantino also took part in the Global Armenian summit.
With merely months left until the end of his term in the California State Legislature, Portantino also reflected on several initiatives he spearheaded as a state lawmaker that advance the just aspirations of the Armenian community and brought the issue of Artsakh’s self-determination to the legislative forefront.
