Preliminary probe into Armenian opposition podcasters' case completed

The preliminary investigation into the criminal case against Imnemnimi podcast co‑hosts Vazgen Saghatelyan and Narek Samsonyan has been completed, their lawyers say. The case, dubbed “Imnemnimi 2”, is now being forwarded to the court, with the investigative file comprising two volumes.

Samsonyan and Saghatelyan were arrested in early November after masked officers from Armenia’s National Security Service raided their homes, preventing their lawyers from attending the searches. Their detentions followed a complaint by National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan regarding comments made on their podcast, which is aired on AntiFake's YouTube channel.

The podcasters have been charged with hooliganism through the use of information or communication technologies under Article 297 of the Armenian Criminal Code.

Law enforcement officers also searched the office of AntiFake.am, seizing its equipment. Several journalists were briefly detained during the operation but were later released.

Human rights groups, political and public figures have condemned the arrests, describing them as part of a crackdown on freedom of speech in Armenia and an effort to silence government critics.