CoE Safety of Journalists Platform  responds to arrest of  Imnemnimi  podcasters

ArmInfo.The Council of Europe Safety of Journalists Platform  has responded to the arrest of the co- hosts of the Imnemnimi podcast, Vazgen Saghatelyan and Narek Samsonyan, as well as the seizure of the property of the Antifake website and the temporary detention of its staff.

A statement published on the platform's website describes the detention of the opposition bloggers by security forces, the reasons for their actions, and the subsequent events. It includes excerpts from the statement issued by the Armenian Center for Political Rights regarding the detentions. 


"According to the Armenian Centre for Political Rights (ACPR), the application of the hooliganism provision circumvents Armenia's decriminalisation of insult and does not meet the legal elements of hooliganism, including the requirement of an "overtly disrespectful attitude toward society." The ACPR also notes that the seizure of all journalistic equipment is unrelated to the charges and obstructs the operation of Antifake.am. The organisation considers the proceedings politically motivated and contrary to several articles of the European Convention on Human Rights."

In this regard, the  Safety of Journalists Platform  expects the Armenian authorities to clarify the legal basis for applying  hooliganism charges and for any alleged "threats" forming part of the case; reassess  the legality and necessity of the detention of Saghatelyan and Samsonyan, with a view to ensuring their release in line with the ECHR; explain the seizure of Antifake.am's journalistic equipment and return it; and provide updates on the criminal  proceedings and the conditions of detention.