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Indiana committee backs concurrent resolution urging federal action on persecution of Armenians in Artsakh
Summary
The Public Policy Committee voted unanimously to send Senate Concurrent Resolution 32 urging Indiana’s federal delegation to act on behalf of persecuted Christians from Artsakh; Senator Zay presented historical background and committee members posed no substantive objections.
Senator Zay told the Public Policy Committee he was presenting Senate Concurrent Resolution 32 “on behalf of, some constituents and friends of mine that are Armenians,” and asked the panel to urge federal counterparts to act on their behalf.
The resolution “calls upon Indiana’s federal delegation to take action” concerning the treatment of Christians from the region of Artsakh, Senator Zay said, adding historical context: “Armenia is the eldest Christian nation in the world. It adopted Christianity in March well before the Roman Empire became holy.”
The measure notes the historical assault on Armenian Christians and refers to the Armenian genocide of 1915–1921 and later violence culminating in recent attacks on the Armenian population of Artsakh that, according to the resolution’s text as read into the record, resulted in thousands of deaths and the expulsion of Christian residents.
The committee received no public testimony on the resolution. After a brief procedural exchange the committee moved the resolution, took a roll-call vote and recorded 10 ayes and 0 nays. Chairman Alting announced, “Resolution passes 10 to 0.”
The resolution is a statement by the General Assembly urging federal attention; it does not direct state action or appropriate funds. Senator Zay concluded his presentation, saying he would “be happy to entertain any questions,” and none were raised that altered the measure’s language.
The committee forwarded Senate Concurrent Resolution 32 with unanimous support.
Sources: presentation and roll-call recorded during the Public Policy Committee meeting; remarks by Senator Zay.
Notes: The resolution text as described in committee references the region variously in testimony; the article uses the place-name Artsakh where the presenter did so.
