The Union of Jurnalasits of Armenia: THE ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE CROSSED ALL BOUNDARIES
Today, on the morning of November 13, with an already familiar scenario and almost identical procedures, the law enforcement bodies — investigators of the Investigative Committee and masked officers of the National Security Service (NSS) — once again raided the homes of Narek Samsonyan and Vazgen Saghatelyan, co-hosts of the Imnemnimi podcast.
Later on, according to reports, the raids were initiated following a criminal complaint filed by Alen Simonyan, the President of the National Assembly of Armenia.
Just days earlier, Simonyan had publicly insulted the two hosts using vulgar, street-level language, unbecoming of his position. The journalists responded to him during their broadcast. Despite this, the law enforcement ignored Simonyan’s conduct, yet proceeded to raid the journalists’ homes at dawn.
It should be recalled that, earlier, the law enforcement had found no elements of a crime in the incident where the very National Assembly President, Alen Simonyan, spat on a citizen — even though, under his own orders, his bodyguards restrained the citizen’s hands so that he could not resist, allowing the President to spit on him without hindrance. The Prosecutor General of Armenia also justified this action, stating that it did not constitute hooliganism.”
Similarly, Simonyan’s repeated abusive and threatening statements toward journalists and opposition members, as well as his orders to forcibly remove journalists from the National Assembly, have gone unpunished.
During today’s raid, Narek Samsonyan’s home was stormed by masked NSS officers, where his two small daughters, aged 3 and 5, were present. The hosts were forcibly detained, handcuffed, and humiliated.
The Investigative Committee has charged them under the article for “hooliganism committed through the use of information or communication technologies.”
It remains unclear why, in a case concerning an alleged digital offense, law enforcement needed to search the podcasters’ homes, especially since their lawyers were not allowed to attend the searches, being kept outside for a long time and prevented from entering to provide legal assistance.
Once again, the work of the defendants’ lawyers was obstructed — they were denied the opportunity to deliver legal aid to their clients.
The demonstrative arrest, conducted with handcuffs and humiliating treatment, was not enough for the initiators of this criminal proceeding. They also raided the offices of Anifake.am, seizing all of the technical equipment of the outlet, a move that clearly aims to suspend the media’s activities.
Later, speaking to journalists about the arrests of the Imnemnimi hosts, National Assembly President Alen Simonyan declared that he had done “the right thing” and accused them of discussing someone’s sexual life on air.
This comes at a time when political opponents and members of the clergy are being wiretapped and persecuted, while leaks, videos, and discussions concerning others’ private and sexual lives are being spread by the Prime Minister and members of the ruling political team themselves.
The Union of Journalists of Armenia strongly condemns the closure of a media outlet and the actions aimed at restricting freedom of speech and expression.
While not encouraging or condoning profanity in public discourse, it must nevertheless be emphasized that the authors of vulgar and hooligan behavior — even under the criminal article they themselves introduced — are the authorities themselves: the NA President who spat on a citizen, and the Prime Minister, who since 2018 has turned his social media platforms into venues for verbal abuse and hostility.
It noteworthy that, since coming to power seven years ago, this government has been distinguished by threats and offensive language directed at its opponents. Examples include phrases such as: “I’ll cut off your ears and tongue,”, “I’ll smash you into the asphalt,”, “You’ll lick the curbs and eat asphalt,”, “I’ll slap you against the walls,”, “You’re in for an asphalt diet,” threatened sexual assault. i.e. “I’ll f*ck you…”
These expressions — used even during the 2021 parliamentary election campaign, when the ruling party appeared with hammers and threatened opposition figures — represent only part of the government’s aggressive and non-normative rhetoric. It must also be recalled that in Armenia, ordinary citizens are being subjected to criminal prosecution for social media posts (including on Facebook) that are not favorable to the authorities.
The Union of Journalists of Armenia calls for, the complete removal of profanity from public discourse, lawful and adequate evaluation of the situation by law enforcement agencies, strict adherence to the law, observing at least the principles of fair trial and equality before the law.
Sounding the alarm, the Union emphasizes that these politically packaged criminal prosecutions, acts of repression, intimidation, and staged public arrests — often accompanied by filming — are acts that sow hatred and intolerance, divide society, and are directed not only against freedom of speech and expression, but also at spreading fear and terrorizing citizens.
Such actions by the Armenian authorities, combined with the total impunity of their own associates and allies, represent lawlessness (“bespredel”) and could lead to very dangerous developments.
The Union therefore appeals to international partners — journalistic organizations, advocates of press and speech freedom, human rights organizations, and diplomatic missions — to condemn what has happened, to remain vigilant, and to prevent further politically motivated actions by the Armenian authorities against opposition figures, dissenting opinions, and freedom of speech.
It calls on the international community not to turn a blind eye to selective justice and the practice of double standards.
The Union of Jurnalasits of Armenia