Google removes fake Azerbaijani place names in Armenia's Syunik from its apps
Following the joint efforts of the Tatoyan Foundation for Law and Justice, led by Armenia’s former Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan, and the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region (ANCA-WR), the fake Azerbaijani place names in Armenia’s Syunik Province have been removed from Google Maps and Google Earth, the foundation said in a statement late on Tuesday.
According to the statement of September 29, based on the alarm of a Sisian resident, the Tatoyan Foundation discovered that in Google Maps and Google Earth applications, the names of locations of several communities in Syunik were referred to as Azerbaijani names of places and in the Azerbaijani language.
“For instance, the river Vorotan was indicated by the Azerbaijani name “Bazarçay,” the Sisian park was falsely named after the former president of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev. Another park was named after Ataturk, the location of the Syunik governorate was identified only in Azerbaijani language as “Zəngəzur Vilayəti Administrasısıyı”, etc. They even tried to change the name of Sisian to Qarakilise,” the Tatoyan Foundation said.
Similarly, the Azerbaijanis falsely renamed locations in the towns of Meghri and Kapan. Other falsified Azerbaijani names were also removed from the Google apps.
The foundation underscored that by swiftly changing the names of Armenian settlements, Azerbaijan was attempting to present to the world false information, specifically, that Syunik is Azerbaijani, an absolutely false thesis promoted by the Azerbaijani authorities.
“Moreover, an attempt was also made to legitimize the Azerbaijani attacks and criminal invasions of the sovereign territory of Armenia.
“The rapid response, communications with Google, and the assertiveness of the Armenian National Committee of America, Western Region (ANCA-WR) should be specifically highlighted,” reads the statement.