Armenia detains two journalists for “insulting” prime minister and ruling party
- 26 March, 03:06
Police in Armenia have detained two hosts of an anti-government podcast on charges of hooliganism after criticism of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and other figures from the ruling party.
The two podcasters were discussing Pashinyan’s statement about the possible handover of four villages to Azerbaijan.
Vazgen Saghatelyan and Narek Samsonyan, the hosts of prominent Imnemnimi podcast were sentenced to two months pre-trial detention on Friday on hooliganism charges. Armenia’s Investigative Committee stated that during the episode streamed on March 22, the hosts of the program “referring to the events that took place in the Armenia’s National Assembly on the same day and the Prime Minister [Nikol Pashinyan’s] speeches, curses and indecent expressions addressed to members of the RA structure and representatives of the government.”
If convicted, Saghatelyan and Narek Samsonyan could face up to five years in prison. Meanwhile, the forage showing the two podcasters’ detention on Friday has received backlash. The video shows a group of police officers, including those who appear to be plainclothes officers, tackling a man and pushing his face to the ground.
Interior Ministry spokesperson Narek Sargsyan announced that Interior Minister Vahe Ghazaryan had instructed the ministry to examine the footage.
