U.S. think tank proposes Section 907 trade-off for Armenian detainees

(Horizon Media / WASHINGTON) – The Washington-based Atlantic Council has proposed that the administration of Donald Trump pursue a “grand bargain” with Azerbaijan that would link the release of political prisoners, including Armenians held in Baku, to the removal of U.S. restrictions on arms sales to Azerbaijan.

In an article authored by Eurasia Center Deputy Director Andrew D’Anieri and researcher Mercedes Sapuppo, the think tank argued that Washington should work with Congress to repeal Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act in exchange for the release of detainees considered unjustly imprisoned in Azerbaijan.

The proposal draws comparisons to negotiations between the United States and Belarus, which reportedly resulted in the release of hundreds of prisoners. According to the article, a similar arrangement with Baku could produce significant results at relatively low political cost while strengthening U.S. ties with a strategically important regional partner bordering Iran and Russia.

The report suggested that Azerbaijan release several Armenians captured during the 2023 Artsakh offensive before Armenia’s June 7 parliamentary elections as a “gesture of goodwill.” It further argued that such a move could strengthen Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan ahead of the elections, noting that officials in Baku allegedly view him as their best chance to secure a final peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Under the proposed sequence, Washington and Baku would then move toward repealing Section 907 in exchange for the release of additional Azerbaijani political prisoners and Armenian detainees. The article specifically mentioned anti-corruption advocate Gubad Ibadoghlu, as well as journalists affiliated with Radio Liberty and Voice of America.

Section 907, adopted by the U.S. Congress in 1992 in response to Azerbaijan’s blockade of Armenia and hostilities against Armenians in Artsakh, restricts direct U.S. government assistance to Azerbaijan. Although successive American presidents have routinely waived the provision since 2001, the Atlantic Council article argued that formally repealing it could provide Washington with additional diplomatic leverage in the region.

The report also noted that Azerbaijan already relies primarily on Turkey and Israel for offensive military capabilities and is more interested in border security and early-warning systems than lethal American weaponry.

According to the article, all sides could benefit from such an arrangement: Azerbaijan would strengthen ties with Washington while preserving a negotiating partner in Yerevan, the Trump administration would secure a foreign policy success through prisoner releases, and Armenia could see the return of Armenian detainees currently held in Azerbaijan.