US ambassador urged to condemn detention of Armenian opposition podcasters

Two Armenian opposition podcasters were detained earlier in November in what human rights activists and experts describe as politically motivated, amid growing concerns over government repression.

Narek Samsonyan and Vazgen Saghatelyan, co-hosts of the Imnemnimi podcast, were taken into custody by masked security officers following searches of their homes on November 13, after responding to insults from National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan. A court imposed a two-month pretrial detention on the podcasters.

Employees of AntiFake media outlet gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan, calling on Ambassador Kristina Kvien to speak out against persecution of government critics.

“Samsonyan and Saghatelyan were arrested not for crimes but for their critical reporting and opposition views,” AntiFake reporter David Fidanyan said, highlighting that Armenia currently has dozens of political prisoners, including local officials and senior clergymen.

Authorities also raided AntiFake’s offices, seizing equipment and detaining two journalists, drawing criticism from human rights defenders who say the crackdown aims to silence dissent.