Two bloggers Arrested in Armenia Violating Their Freedom of Speech
This is a recent case of a flagrant human rights violation and political persecution of independent journalists in Armenia.
These journalists were arrested and imprisoned for exercising their right of free speech. Human rights and free speech advocates around the world should pressure the Armenian authorities to release them from custody.
Narek Samsonyan and Vazgen Saghatelyan, opposition podcast bloggers with increasing popularity, were arrested and subsequently detained for 2 months on March 22. Narek Samsonyan was arrested with excessive and unnecessary use of force by police. The incident was filmed and made public, which prevented the same ill-treatment against Vazgen Saghatelyan.
Their podcast, “Imnemnimi”, was aired on “Antifake” online outlet, an independent media, founded and run by Narek Samsonyan.
The bloggers were charged with “hooliganism” for calling PM Nikol Pashinyan “son of a bitch” during their podcast while discussing his decision to transfer some Armenian territories to Azerbaijan.
The charge of hooliganism has never been used for similar cases in the past. Such language has become widespread practice in the political discourse in Armenia.
In fact, it’s a case of extra-legislative revival of the offense of “gross insult”, which was introduced to the Armenian Criminal Code in 2021 by Pashinyan’s government and was used exclusively against people with dissenting views. In July, 2022, “gross insult” was decriminalized due to the pressure by both local and international stakeholders.