Armenian opposition activist nears critical stage in hunger strike

Opposition podcaster Narek Samsonyan entered the 13th day of his hunger strike in prison on January 21, approaching a critical stage.

Doctor Kate Tairyan, who has been documenting the effects of prolonged fasting, said Samsonyan’s body is nearing the point where it begins breaking down muscle proteins after exhausting fat reserves. She stressed that doctors have both a professional and moral duty to inform the public about his condition.

Samsonyan began an open-ended strike on January 9 to protest the extension of his and fellow podcaster Vazgen Saghatelyan’s detention on hooliganism charges dismissed by experts as a politically motivated effort to silence free speech and government critics in Armenia.

Tairyan noted that questions remain unanswered about Samsonyan’s weight loss, the rate of decline and the percentage of body mass lost since the strike began. She warned of severe risks if his demands are not met.

The lawyer stressed Samsonyan’s protest “is not a personal matter but a public stand against systemic injustice”.