November 14, 2025, Yerevan

On November 13, 2025, National Security Service (NSS) officers arrested Vazgen Saghatelyan and Narek Samsonyan, the co-authors and hosts of AntiFake.am website’s “Imnemnimi” podcast. Later, the court decided that they be held in custody for two months. The case stemmed from the profanities and insults Saghatelyan and Samsonyan directed at Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, NA Speaker Alen Simonyan, and other government representatives in two episodes of the aforementioned podcast released after the November 7 interview with Armenia’s third President Serzh Sargsyan.

The prosecution was launched following a report by Alen Simonyan. According to the Investigative Committee, the case was initiated under paragraphs 2.1 and 2.3 of Article 297 of the Criminal Code (hooliganism committed by a group of individuals through the use of information or communication technologies).

On the same day, the NSS carried out a search of AntiFake.am office, seizing its equipment. Following the search, they arrested journalist Davit Fidanyan on charges of obstructing justice. Today, on November 14, law enforcement officers also arrested AntiFake.am employee Ishkhan Khosrovyan, who was released a few hours afterward.

We, the undersigned journalistic organizations, consider the authorities’ use of disproportionate force and brutal pressure unacceptable. This was reflected in the demonstrative involvement of the National Security Service, the arrest of other AntiFake.am staff members not directly related to the core issue, and the seizure of all editorial equipment, which led to the disruption of the activities of the opposition platform. These actions are condemnable and unbefitting of a state that aspires to democracy.

At the same time, we firmly consider foul language and insults as unacceptable and condemn their use in the public domain, particularly on social networks and in media. This vicious phenomenon, which has become widespread in recent years and often escapes accountability, further exacerbates societal division and polarization, sowing intolerance and unrestrained behavior. It is beyond question that the use of profanities and insults, hate speech and threats should be subject to legal evaluation. These actions are incompatible with the basic norms of communication with society.

Given the significant public outcry over the above-mentioned events, we demand:

• law enforcement agencies to refrain from a selective approach when holding individuals accountable for insults and profanities, and to carry out a comprehensive and objective investigation of the case, regularly updating the public on its progress and results,
• the authorities, all political forces, including the media associated with them, to refrain from using language in public speech that crosses the boundaries of decency, as well as profanities, and to demonstrate the utmost tolerance and restraint when discussing matters of public concern.

COMMITTEE TO PROTECT FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
YEREVAN PRESS CLUB
MEDIA INITIATIVES CENTER
JOURNALISTS’ CLUB “ASPAREZ”
MEDIA DIVERSITY INSTITUTE-ARMENIA
PUBLIC JOURNALISM CLUB
“JOURNALISTS FOR THE FUTURE” NGO
“JOURNALISTS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS” NGO