Photos: Several Communities in Syunik Region Listed with Azerbaijani Names on Google Maps, Says Tatoyan Foundation

The Center for Law and Justice, the Tatoyan Foundation, has found that several communities in the Syunik region of the Republic of Armenia are listed with Azerbaijani names on Google Maps and Google Earth applications. This revelation came following a report from a resident of the city of Sisian to the Tatoyan Foundation.

The Tatoyan Foundation reports that research indicates that renamed and fake or non-existent Azerbaijani names are used for schools, parks, squares, and other locations. For instance, the Vorotan River is listed under the Azerbaijani name 'Bazarçay,' while a park in Sisian is named after former Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev or Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The Syunik regional administration is listed only in Azerbaijani as 'Zəngəzur Vilayəti Administrasiyası,' among other instances. There has even been an attempt to change the name of the city of Sisian to Qarakilise. Detailed information is presented in accompanying photographs released by the Tatoyan Foundation.

'It is evident that the actions taken are with the involvement of Azerbaijani authorities. This serves, firstly, to psychologically pressure the people of Armenia and particularly the residents of specific communities. In this way, they are attempting to misrepresent the world by claiming that Syunik is Azerbaijani, mimicking the absolute false thesis of Azerbaijani authority. Ultimately, the aim is to legitimize Azerbaijani assaults and criminal invasions of the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia. Similar approaches have also been observed in place names in Meghri and Kapan,' says the foundation.

The Tatoyan Foundation, in cooperation with the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region (ANCA Western Region), is already in contact with Google and is taking steps towards resolving the issue. As a result of these efforts, some falsified names have already been changed. If this situation does not improve, legal actions will be initiated in cooperation with American partner Armenian attorneys to eliminate the Azerbaijani fabrications,' the foundation notes.