The Armenian Center for Political Rights has examined the charges and prosecution brought against Narek Samsonyan and Vazgen Saghatelyan, the hosts of the Imnemnimi podcast. According to the Center’s conclusion, the case is politically motivated, as it lacks a proper legal basis.

It should be recalled that on 22 March 2024, Narek Samsonyan and Vazgen Saghatelyan—hosts of the opposition-oriented political podcast Imnemnimi—were arrested and subsequently placed in pre-trial detention for two months. They were charged with “hooliganism” for using profanity directed at the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and members of his political party during an episode of the podcast. Under the criminal case, the podcasters face up to five years’ imprisonment.

The hosts had warned in advance that the relevant segment of the podcast would contain profanity, and the discussed portion of the video was marked 18+. The force used during Samsonyan’s arrest appeared punitive in nature, since—according to the video footage—he made no attempt to resist.

Given that insult and aggravated insult have been decriminalized in Armenia, the continued detention of podcasters Narek Samsonyan and Vazgen Saghatelyan effectively means that they are serving a custodial punishment for an act that is not criminalized under Armenian law.

These circumstances, in themselves, indicate that their status meets the criteria not only of political prisoners but also of prisoners of conscience. Details and reasoning are available in the report.