Armenian opposition podcasters' detention sparks protest ahead of court hearing

Supporters of two Armenian opposition podcasters rallied outside a Yerevan court on Friday, denouncing the politically motivated prosecution against the men, who have been held in pre-trial detention for two months.

Samsonyan and Saghatelyan, co-hosts of the Imnemnimi podcast, have been detained since November 13 after sharply responding on air to offensive remarks made by Alen Simonyan. They face charges of hooliganism committed through communication technologies.

Lawyers and human rights advocates argue that the arrests amount to retaliation against free speech. In November, law enforcement officers also raided the headquarters of AntiFake.am, seizing equipment and briefly detaining two of its journalists.

“This is the most disgraceful political persecution, and I will not hesitate to say it,” Antifake journalist Davit Fidanyan said outside the courthouse. He argued the pair were jailed for their political views and sharp rhetoric, noting that Samsonyan was detained after using the word “buttocks” on air.

Fidanyan accused the Armenian leadership of targeting government critics while ignoring inflammatory language used by officials themselves. “If we had a real judicial system, those officials would be held accountable. Instead, today Armenia’s prisons are full of political prisoners,” he said.

The first hearing in the case is scheduled for Friday afternoon at the Nor Nork district court. The judge will consider whether to extend or alter the opposition activists' detention.