Narek Samsonyan and Vazgen Saghatelyan, hosts of the “Imneminim” Podcast, imprisoned for their speech for about a month

On December 10, International Human Rights Day, the AntiFake.am team held a symbolic demonstration in Yerevan’s Freedom Square in connection with the illegal detention of “Imneminim” podcast hosts Narek Samsonyan and Vazgen Saghatelyan, who have been imprisoned for their speech for nearly a month.

A large banner bearing the words “Freedom to Political Prisoners,” along with photos of Samsonyan and Saghatelyan and the “Imneminim” podcast logo, was installed in Freedom Square. In front of the banner, organizers placed two empty chairs and a large symbolic bar, representing the fact that the hosts are unlawfully deprived of their freedom and unable to produce their program.

During the event, AntiFake.am journalist David Fidanyan spoke about the illegal actions being taken against AntiFake.am, as well as against Samsonyan and Saghatelyan. Dozens of citizens took photos in front of the symbolic bars and wrote messages on the “Wall of Absurdity,” expressing their views on the detention of individuals in Armenia for the use of the word “buttocks,” as well as on broader issues of political persecution in the country.