Civilnet
By Lia Avagyan
Armenian authorities arrested and charged two opposition-aligned commentators on Thursday after a podcast episode in which they used offensive language and allegedly issued threats targeting Alen Simonyan, the country’s parliamentary speaker.
Narek Samsonyan and Vazgen Saghatelyan, hosts of the Imnemnimi podcast, were detained by National Security Service officers, according to their lawyers. They were taken to the Investigative Committee for questioning.
Their November 10 episode included harsh insults directed at Simonyan. The speaker filed a formal complaint, saying the broadcast went beyond swearing and mockery and contained explicit threats that required a criminal review.
“I couldn’t avoid filing a report. If there is a threat, what else should I do?” Simonyan told reporters. “Anyone who engages in hooliganism or issues threats will be held accountable by law.”
Following their interrogations, the Investigative Committee charged both Samsonyan and Saghatelyan with hooliganism, their lawyer Ruben Melikyan said, adding that prosecutors plan to request pre-trial detention. Hooliganism charges in Armenia can carry a prison sentence.
Simonyan is also pursuing a civil claim against Saghatelyan, demanding roughly $5,000 in damages and a public apology.
Several lawyers said they were blocked from entering the homes during the early-morning searches. The Investigative Committee has stated only that “urgent investigative actions” are underway and has not provided further details.
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