Statement by AntiFake.am Regarding the Three-Month Extension of Narek Samsonyan's and Vazgen Saghatelyan's Imprisonment and the Indefinite Hunger Strike Announced by Samsonyan
The Court's decision to extend the detention of Narek Samsonyan and Vazgen Saghatelyan for another three months is not legal; it is political and extremely dangerous for Armenia.
With this decision, Judge Manvel Shahverdyan did not administer justice but became a tool of political will in the ongoing campaign against freedom of speech.
Narek Samsonyan and Vazgen Saghatelyan, authors and hosts of the "Imnemnimi" podcast, are imprisonednot for a socially dangerous act, but for their speech and stance during the podcast, specifically for responding to profanity uttered by the President of the National Assembly of Armenia. In that response, Narek Samsonyan merely used the word "buttocks." Narek Samsonyan is the founder and head of AntiFake.am, a representative of independent media whose activities have been aimed at exposing the actions of the authorities and exercising public control.
Today, following the court's decision, Narek Samsonyan announced an indefinite hunger strike as a last resort against this illegality. This is an extreme step, born not of an emotional outburst, but of a goal to put an end to the systemic legal hooliganism involving investigators, the prosecutor, and judges.
We record that:
• The preliminary investigation of the criminal case is concluded,
• The case is in the trial phase,
• There is no risk of obstruction to the proceedings,
• Narek Samsonyan has two young children and is the sole provider for his family,
• The Court of Appeals has recorded a judicial error regarding the application of imprisonment in Narek Samsonyan's case,
• And under these conditions, the extension of imprisonment no longer has any legal explanation.
This is a classic example of what international law calls a "chilling effect"—when repression applied against one person is a message to all: be silent, or else you will be destroyed.
We appeal to:
• The authorities of the Republic of Armenia — to immediately cease political persecutions against freedom of speech.
• The Judiciary — to realize the consequences of their decisions and their responsibility for human life and health.
• Armenian and international media — not to remain silent and not to cover this case as an "ordinary criminal proceeding."
• International human rights and journalistic organizations — to react, record, and assess this case as political persecution.
• Opposition politicians and public figures — silence at this moment is not neutrality, but complicity.
The editorial board of AntiFake.am declares that the authorities of the Republic of Armenia bear full responsibility for Narek Samsonyan's health and life.
We will continue the struggle on all legal, public, and international platforms.
Editorial Board of AntiFake.am
