House arrest imposed on Vazgen Saghatelyan (Video)

The Avan seat of the Yerevan City Criminal Court, presided over by Judge Manvel Shahverdyan, has reviewed the motion to change the preventive measure against Vazgen Saghatelyan. The court ruled to replace his detention with house arrest for a period of two months. Saghatelyan, a co-author of the “Imnemnimi” program series, had been held in detention for 142 days prior to this decision.

His co-author, Narek Samsonyan, is currently under administrative control, which includes a restriction on public speech. Earlier, on January 9, 2026, the court extended the detention period for both individuals by three months.

Following that ruling, Samsonyan declared an indefinite hunger strike. Fifteen days later, he was transferred to the Izmirlyan Medical Center, where he underwent surgery. Subsequently, his detention was replaced with house arrest under strict restrictions – a measure his lawyers, as well as some political and public figures, have described as unlawful.

To recall, on November 13, 2025, Narek Samsonyan and Vazgen Saghatelyan – co-authors of the “Imnemnimi” podcast – were arrested and charged with hooliganism based on a complaint filed by National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan. Both defendants deny the charges.