Minnesota did not recognize the independence of Artsakh. The media spreads misinformation

On May 5, almost all Armenian media outlets reported that the Senate of the US state of Minnesota had adopted a resolution recognizing the Republic of Artsakh.

In their articles, the media mostly referred to Anush Ghavalyan, Advisor to the Speaker of the Artsakh National Assembly, who wrote about the news on her Facebook page, also attaching the resolution. Ghavalyan added that May 5 has been declared the day of recognition of Artsakh’s independence.

“Excellent news from the United States. The Senate of the US state of Minnesota has adopted a resolution recognizing the Republic of Artsakh and declaring May 5 the Day of Recognition of the Republic of Artsakh” Ghavalyan wrote.

The information was spread by “Armenpress”, Public Radio, 1lurer.am, of Public TV, tert.am, Infocom, A1 +, 24news.am, aravot.am, panorama.am , yerkir.am and other media outlets.

 

However, it turned out later that this information did not correspond to reality. In fact, the resolution exists, but it has not yet been adopted by the Senate.

It is noteworthy that the media have either removed or modified their publications on the topic. In particular, “Armenpress” completely removed the article, and the Public Radio edited its article, presenting the post of the Armenian Assembly of America instead of Anush Ghavalyan’s post.

What is the bill about?

The author of the bill is Mary Kiffmeyer, a member of the Minnesota Senate, who submitted a similar document to the Senate in 2019, but according to the official website of the Senate, it was not adopted.

Fip.am contacted Anush Ghavalyan to find out the grounds for her post. She also confirmed that the resolution has not been adopted yet. “The picture of the resolution that I spread was not the final version adopted by the Minnesota Senate, but a statement signed by the author of the resolution. The draft resolution is still on the website of the Senate” she said.

The Armenian Assembly of America also referred to the resolution, noting that it is a welcome and important symbolic gesture that acknowledges and supports the basic human rights of the people of Artsakh to live, self-govern and prosper freely and securely and at peace with her neighbors.

Thus, the widely circulated information on May 5 that the Senate of the US state of Minnesota has adopted a resolution recognizing the Republic of Artsakh does not correspond to reality.

It should be noted that the states of California, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan and Rhode Island have recognized the independence of the Republic of Artsakh.

Lusine Voskanyan

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