,i #aad? ,,congress #a/ ,session ,h4 ,r4 #dbfd ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,( ,,repres5tatives ,decemb] #af1 #bjae ,mr4 ,smi? ( ,new ,j]sey introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,=eign ,affairs1 & 9 addition to ! ,committees on ! ,judici>y & ,f9ancial ,s]vices1 = a p]iod to be subsequ5tly det]m9$ by ! ,speak]1 9 ea* case = consid]ation ( su* provisions z fall )9 ! jurisdiction ( ! committee conc]n$ ,a ,,bill ,to promote ,unit$ ,/ates national security & =eign policy objectives ?r\gh consolidation & /r5g!n+ ( ! rule ( law & respect = human rights 9 ! ,republic ( ,az]baijan4 #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,az]baijan ,democracy ,act ( #bjae4 #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress makes ! foll[+ f9d+s3 7#a7 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates & ! ,republic ( ,az]baijan h _m areas ( mutual int]e/ & coop]ation1 b ! ,unit$ ,/ates ability to m fully coop]ate ) ,az]baijan has be5 sev]ely h9d]$ by ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan's gross violations ( human rights & fundam5tal fre$oms1 includ+ violations ( basic pr9ciples ( democratic gov]nance1 /&>ds to :i* ,az]baijan has committ$ itself to adh]e z a p>ticipat+ ,/ate 9 ! ,organization = ,security & ,coop]ation 9 ,europe 7,,osce7 & o!r multilat]al in/itutions4 7#b7 ,on ,decemb] #e1 #bjad1 ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan arre/$ inve/igative report] ,khadija ,ismayilova1 :o also 0 a radio ho/ on ,radio ,free_/,radio ,lib]ty 7,,rfe_/,,rl74 ,! *>ge aga9/ h] 0 incitem5t to suicide1 & %e 0 held 9 pretrial det5tion & n all[$ out on bail4 ,on ,decemb] #bf1 #bjad1 ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan raid$ ! ,baku ,(fice ( ,,rfe_/,,rl & clos$ its op]ations4 ,ov] ! c\rse ( a ye> 9 pretrial det5tion1 ! orig9al *>ges aga9/ ,ms4 ,ismayilova 7 dropp$ aft] gov]nm5t-call$ witnesses refus$ to coop]ate ) ! case4 ,h[ev]1 ,ms4 ,ismayilova rema9$ 9 det5tion & ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan subsequ5tly *>g$ h] ) embezzlem5t1 illegal entrepr5eur%ip1 tax evasion1 & abuse ( p[]4 ,%e 0 convict$ & is n[ s]v+ a #ga_/b-ye> s5t5ce 9 prison4 ,! ,,rfe_/,,rl ,baku ,bureau has n be5 all[$ to reop54 7#c7 ,accord+ to ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,/ate ,dep>tm5t report = #bjad1 ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan did n respect its own laws on fre$om ( spee* & press c5sor%ip4 ,! report said1 ,! gov]nm5t cont9u$ to limit fre$om ( spee* & m$ia indep5d5ce4 ,j\rnali/s fac$ intimidation & at times 7 beat5 & imprison$44 7#d7 ,! ,committee to ,protect ,j\rnali/s /at$ t ,az]baijan is ! lead+ jail] ( j\rnali/s 9 ,europe & ,c5tral ,asia1 & is ! fif? mo/ c5sor$ c\ntry 9 ! _w4 7#e7 ,z an ,,osce p>ticipat+ ,/ate1 ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan has committ$ itself to "w t[>d a /&>d ( free & fair elections4 ,s9ce its indep5d5ce 9 #aiib1 no election held 9 ,az]baijan has met ! m9imum requirem5ts z outl9$ by ! ,,osce4 ,elections = ,presid5t & = ! ,p>liam5t h %[n a patt]n ( disreg>d = ! conduct ( democratic elections & h be5 m>r$ by ! arbitr>y use ( /ate p[]1 disreg>d = ! basic rights ( fre$om ( assembly1 association1 & expression4 ,! conduct ( ! elections demon/rates ! unwill+ness ( au?orities 9 ,az]baijan to tol]ate political competition4 7#f7 ,accord+ to ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's ,c\ntry ,reports on ,human ,rights ,practices = #bjad1 ,az]baijan has us$ ''' ! judicial sy/em to puni% peaceful diss5t--includ+ increas$ reports ( arbitr>y arre/ & det5tion1 politically motivat$ imprisonm5t1 lack ( due process1 & l5g?y pretrial det5tion--by secul> & religi\s individuals p]ceiv$ z a ?reat by gov]nm5t (ficials1 :ile crimes aga9/ su* individuals or _! family memb]s w5t unpuni%$44 7#g7 ,accord+ to ! #bjae report on religi\s fre$om by ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,commission on ,int]national ,religi\s ,fre$om 7,,uscirf71 ,despite societal religi\s tol]ance 9 ,az]baijan1 gov]nm5tal respect = religi\s fre$om cont9u$ to det]iorate 9 #bjad44 ,! report details ! ,gov]nm5t's use ( ! #bjji religion law to limit religi\s fre$om & to ju/ify f9es1 police raids1 det5tions1 & imprisonm5t44 ,!re are #dd names on ! li/ ( religi\s prison]s publi%$ by ,,uscirf4 7#h7 ,,uscirf cit$ poor conditions = religi\s m9orities 9 ,az]baijan1 report+ t mo/ ,prote/ant d5om9ations d n h legal /atus1 includ+ ,bapti/s1 ,sev5?-day ,adv5ti/s1 & ,p5teco/als1 z well z ,jehovah's ,witnesses44 7#i7 ,! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan has fur!r attempt$ to sil5ce diss5t ?r\gh retribution aga9/ ! political opposition1 j\rnali/s1 indep5d5t ,n,g,os1 & _! family memb]s1 ?r\gh physical ?reats & beat+s1 dismissal f employm5t1 travel re/rictions & o!r =ms ( intimidation4 7#aj7 ,^? jail$ opposition c&idates & activi/s h be5 treat$ h>%ly 9 pretrial det5tion & 9 prison1 includ+ physical beat+s1 d5i$ access to family1 def5se c\nsel1 m$ical treatm5t1 & op5 legal proce$+s4 #c4 ,/atem5t ( policy ,x is ! policy ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates-- 7#a7 to secure ,unit$ ,/ates national security & economic int]e/s 9 ! region ?r\gh promotion ( a /able & democratic gov]nm5t 9 ,az]baijan2 7#b7 to call = ! imm$iate release )\t preconditions ( all political prison]s 9 ,az]baijan2 7#c7 to support ! aspirations ( ! p ( ,az]baijan = democracy1 int]nationally recogniz$ human rights1 & ! rule ( law2 7#d7 to support ! gr[? ( ! rule ( law & democratic in/itutions 9 ,az]baijan2 7#e7 to "w closely ) o!r c\ntries & int]national organizations1 includ+ ! ,,osce1 to br+ ,az]baijan 9 compliance ) its multilat]al commitm5ts2 & 7#f7 reassess ,unit$ ,/ates policy t[>d ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan reevaluat+ ,unit$ ,/ates policy t[>d ,az]baijan z w>rant$ by demon/rable progress made by ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan consi/5t ) ! policy ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates z /at$ 9 ?is section4 #d4 ,d5ial ( entry into ! ,unit$ ,/ates ( s5ior lead]%ip ( ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan & o!rs 7a7 ,d5ial ( entry ,not)/&+ any o!r provision ( law1 ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate may n issue any visa to1 & ! ,secret>y ( ,homel& ,security %all d5y entry to ! ,unit$ ,/ates (1 any ali5 describ$ 9 subsection 7c74 7b7 ,curr5t visas revok$ ,not)/&+ any o!r provision ( law1 ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate %all revoke1 9 accordance ) section #bba7;i7 ( ! ,immigration & ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #abja7;i771 ! visa or o!r docum5tation ( any ali5 :o w\ld be ineligible to receive su* a visa or docum5tation "u subsection 7a74 7c7 ,ali5s describ$ ,an ali5 describ$ 9 ?is subsection is any ali5 :o-- 7#a7 holds a position 9 ! s5ior lead]%ip ( ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan2 7#b7 is an imm$iate family memb] ( a p]son describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a72 7#c7 ?r\gh 8 or h] bus9ess deal+s ) s5ior lead]%ip ( ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan d]ives significant f9ancial b5efit f policies or actions1 includ+ electoral fraud1 human rights abuses1 or corruption1 t und]m9e or injure democratic in/itutions or imp$e ! transition to democracy 9 ,az]baijan2 & 7#d7 is a memb] ( any bran* ( ! security1 judicial1 or law en=cem5t s]vices ( ,az]baijan & has p>ticipat$ 9 ! p]secution or h>assm5t ( indep5d5t m$ia or j\rnali/s1 human rights def5d]s1 opposition gr\ps1 or religi\s gr\ps4 7d7 ,exception ,! requirem5ts "u subsections 7a7 & 7b7 %all n apply ) respect to an ali5 :o is an (ficial ( ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan & :o is seek+ entry into ! ,unit$ ,/ates = ! purpose ( p>ticipation 9 talks relat$ to resolution ( ! ,nagorno ,k>abakh conflict "u ! auspices ( ! ,,osce ,m9sk ,gr\p4 #e4 ,s5se ( ,congress on sanctions aga9/ ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan & s5ior lead]%ip ( ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan & o!rs 7a7 ,prohibition on loans & inve/m5t 7#a7 ,unit$ /ates gov]nm5t f9anc+ ,x is ! s5se ( ,congress t no loan1 cr$it gu>antee1 insurance1 f9anc+1 or o!r simil> f9ancial assi/ance be ext5d$ by any ag5cy ( ! ,gov]nm5t ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates 7includ+ ! ,export-,import ,bank ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates & ! ,ov]seas ,private ,inve/m5t ,corporation7 to ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan1 except ) respect to ! provision ( humanit>ian goods & agricultural or m$ical products4 7#b7 ,trade & developm5t ag5cy ,x is ! s5se ( ,congress t no funds available to ! ,trade & ,developm5t ,ag5cy %\ld be available = activities ( ! ,ag5cy 9 or = ,az]baijan4 7b7 ,multilat]al f9ancial assi/ance ,! ,secret>y ( ! ,treasury %\ld in/ruct ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,executive ,director at ea* int]national f9ancial in/itution ( :i* ! ,unit$ ,/ates is a memb] to use ! voice & vote ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to oppose any ext5sion by ^? in/itutions ( any f9ancial assi/ance 7includ+ any te*nical assi/ance or grant7 ( any k9d to ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan1 except = loans & assi/ance t s]ve humanit>ian ne$s4 7c7 ,block+ ( assets & o!r prohibit$ activities 7#a7 ,block+ ( assets ,x is ! s5se ( ,congress t ! ,presid5t %\ld block all prop]ty & int]e/s 9 prop]ty1 includ+ all comm]cial1 indu/rial1 or public utility und]tak+s or entities1 t1 on or aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act-- 7,a7 are own$1 9 :ole or 9 "p1 by any memb] ( ! s5ior lead]%ip ( ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan1 or by any memb] or family memb] closely l9k$ to any memb] ( ! s5ior lead]%ip ( ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan1 or any p]son :o ?r\gh 8 or h] bus9ess deal+s ) ! s5ior lead]%ip ( ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan d]ives significant f9ancial b5efit f policies or actions1 includ+ electoral fraud1 human rights abuses1 or corruption1 t und]m9e or injure democratic in/itutions or imp$e ! transition to democracy 9 ,az]baijan2 & 7,b7 are 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 t h]eaft] come )9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 or t are or h]eaft] come )9 ! possession or control ( any ,unit$ ,/ates p]son4 7#b7 ,prohibit$ activities ,activities prohibit$ by reason ( ! block+ ( prop]ty & int]e/s 9 prop]ty "u p>agraph 7#a7 %\ld include paym5ts or transf]s ( any prop]ty1 or any transactions involv+ ! transf] ( any?+ ( economic value by any ,unit$ ,/ates p]son to any p]son describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a7 ( su* p>agraph4 7#c7 ,paym5t ( exp5ses ,all exp5ses incid5t to ! block+ & ma9t5ance ( prop]ty block$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 %\ld be *>g$ to ! own]s or op]ators ( su* prop]ty4 ,su* exp5ses may n be paid f block$ funds4 7#d7 ,rule ( con/ruction ,no?+ 9 ?is subsection %\ld be con/ru$ to prohibit any contract or o!r f9ancial transaction ) any private or nongov]nm5tal organization or bus9ess 9 ,az]baijan4 7#e7 ,exceptions ,p>agraphs 7#a7 & 7#b7 %\ld n apply ) respect to ! provision ( m$ic9e1 m$ical equipm5t or supplies1 food1 z well z any o!r =m ( humanit>ian assi/ance provid$ to ,az]baijan z relief 9 response to a humanit>ian crisis4 7#f7 ,p5alties ,any p]son :o violates any prohibition or re/riction impos$ "u ?is subsection %\ld be subject to ! p5alties "u section #bjf ( ! ,int]national ,em]g5cy ,economic ,p[]s ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #agje7 to ! same ext5t z = a violation "u t ,act4 #f4 ,t]m9ation ( sanctions ,! sanctions describ$ 9 section #d %all apply ) respect to an ali5 describ$ 9 t section1 & ! sanctions describ$ 9 section #e %\ld apply ) respect to ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan1 ! s5ior lead]%ip ( ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan1 & any o!r p]son describ$ 9 section #e1 until ! ,presid5t det]m9es & c]tifies to ! appropriate congressional committees t ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan has made significant progress 9 meet+ ! foll[+ conditions3 7#a7 ,! release ( individuals 9 ,az]baijan :o h be5 jail$ bas$ on political or religi\s beliefs or expression4 7#b7 ,! cessation ( all =ms ( h>assm5t & repression aga9/ ! indep5d5t m$ia1 nongov]nm5tal organizations1 y\? gr\ps1 religi\s organizations 7includ+ _! lead]%ip & memb]s71 & ! political opposition 9 ,az]baijan4 7#c7 ,progress t[>d free1 fair & transp>5t elections & ! rule ( law consi/5t ) ,,osce commitm5ts4 #g4 ,multilat]al coop]ation ,x is ! s5se ( ,congress t ! ,presid5t %\ld cont9ue to seek ! support ( o!r c\ntries1 p>ticul>ly ,european c\ntries1 = a compreh5sive1 multilat]al /rategy to fur!r ! purposes ( ?is ,act1 includ+1 z appropriate1 enc\rag+ o!r c\ntries to take measures ) respect to ! ,republic ( ,az]baijan t are simil> to measures describ$ 9 ?is ,act4 #h4 ,report 7a7 ,report ,n lat] ?an #ij days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 & annually !reaft]1 ! ,presid5t %all submit to ! appropriate congressional committees a report t describes1 ) respect to ! prec$+ #ab-mon? p]iod & to ! ext5t practicable1 ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,! coop]ation ( ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan ) any =eign gov]nm5t or organization = purposes relat$ to ! c5sor%ip or surveillance ( ! ,int]net1 or ! pur*ase or receipt by ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan ( any te*nology or tra9+ f any =eign gov]nm5t or organization = purposes relat$ to ! c5sor%ip or surveillance ( ! ,int]net4 7#b7 ,! p]sonal assets & weal? ( ,presid5t ,ilham ,aliyev & o!r s5ior lead]%ip ( ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan4 7b7 ,=m ,a report transmitt$ pursuant to subsection 7a7 %all be 9 unclassifi$ =m b may conta9 a classifi$ annex4 #i4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3 7#a7 ,appropriate congressional committees ,! t]m appropriate congressional committees means ! ,committee on ,=eign ,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & ! ,committee on ,=eign ,relations ( ! ,s5ate4 7#b7 ,s5ior lead]%ip ( ! gov]nm5t ( az]baijan ,! t]m s5ior lead]%ip ( ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan includes-- 7,a7 ! ,presid5t1 ,prime ,m9i/]1 ,deputy ,prime ,m9i/]s1 gov]nm5t m9i/]s1 ,*airm5 ( ,/ate ,committees1 gov]nors1 heads ( /ate ent]prises1 & memb]s ( ! ,presid5tial ,adm9i/ration ( ,az]baijan2 7,b7 any (ficial ( ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan :o-- 7i7 is p]sonally & sub/antially involv$ 9 ! suppression ( fre$om 9 ,az]baijan1 includ+ judges1 prosecutors1 & heads ( pr(essional associations & educational in/itutions2 or 7ii7 is o!rwise engag$ 9 public corruption 9 ,az]baijan2 & 7,c7 any o!r individual det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate 7or ! ,secret>y's designee7 to be p]sonally & sub/antially involv$ 9 ! =mulation or execution ( ! policies ( ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,az]baijan t are 9 contradiction ( int]nationally recogniz$ human rights /&>ds4