Extension of opposition podcasters' detention sparks protest in Yerevan

Supporters of two Armenian opposition podcasters held a protest in central Yerevan on Saturday against a court decision to extend the pre-trial detention of Vazgen Saghatelyan and Narek Samsonyan by three months.

The demonstration, organized by the team of the AntiFake news website, took place at Liberty Square in central Yerevan. Protesters criticized a ruling by judge Manvel Shahverdyan of the Yerevan Court of First Instance, who granted the prosecutor’s request to extend the detention of the two activists, who co-host the Imnemnimi podcast.

Following the decision, Samsonyan, the AntiFake founder, announced an open-ended hunger strike.

Speaking to reporters at the rally, AntiFake journalist Davit Fidanyan said the protest aimed to draw attention to unlawful actions surrounding the case. He accused the court of acting on political orders.

Fidanyan said the opposition should take coordinated steps to secure the release of all political prisoners, adding that more protests were planned.

After the rally, demonstrators are set to hold an awareness march through central Yerevan, including Northern Avenue, Amiryan Street, Mashtots Avenue and Baghramyan Avenue.

Saghatelyan and Samsonyan were detained and charged with hooliganism in mid-November following a complaint filed by National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan.