Mr. Speaker, I join today with many of my colleagues in extending my congratulations to the people of Nagorno Karabakh on the anniversary of the Nagorno Karabakh Freedom Movement.

On February 20, 1988, the people of Nagorno Karabakh officially petitioned the Soviet government to reunite with Armenia and reverse the injustice perpetrated by the Soviet dictator, Joseph Stalin.

This peaceful and legal request was met with violent reaction by the Soviet and Azerbaijani leadership, and escalated into full military aggression against Nagorno Karabakh. The people of Nagorno Karabakh bravely defended their right to live in freedom on their ancestral land.

Today, Nagorno Karabakh continues to strengthen its statehood with a democratically elected government, a capable defense force, and an independent foreign policy.

I stand with the people of Nagorno Karabakh in celebrating their continuing freedom and democracy.