Opposition Bloggers Detained in Armenia: Implications for Free Speech and Political Discourse
20․11․2025
By Tigran Grigoryan and Tatev Ghazaryan
On November 13, at 7 a.m., masked officers of Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) raided the homes of opposition bloggers and activists Narek Samsonyan and Vazgen Saghatelian, arresting both men. Later the same day, they were charged with hooliganism and placed in two months’ pre-trial detention. Law enforcement also seized the equipment used for their “Imnemnimi” podcast.
The arrests came immediately after a politically charged media event. On November 12, Samsonyan and Saghatelyan hosted former President Serzh Sargsyan on their podcast, where he spent more than seven hours answering questions in a live broadcast. The episode quickly gained significant attention, accumulating around 268,000 views.
Once the broadcast ended, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reacted by posting a series of Facebook comments addressing Sargsyan’s statements. Even before the episode was released, the Speaker of Parliament, Alen Simonyan, had responded to the teaser trailer by criticizing Sargsyan and insulting the podcast hosts, calling them “sons of a bitch.” Samsonyan and Saghatelyan, in turn, responded with sexually explicit insults directed at Simonyan, both on Facebook and during their podcast. Simonyan subsequently filed a complaint with law enforcement, which led to the criminal case against them.
This episode, much like several developments in recent months, raises serious concerns about selective justice. The use of masked NSS officers to arrest individuals accused of hooliganism in early-morning raids was clearly disproportionate and appears intended to intimidate figures engaged in opposition activities. Such actions stand in stark contrast to the authorities’ handling of incidents involving government officials. Notably, roughly two years ago, Alen Simonyan spat on a citizen who had heckled him, yet no criminal proceedings were initiated. As noted in a previous Democracy Watch report, between 2020 and 2023, 95 percent of criminal cases related to speech were brought against individuals who targeted the prime minister or his supporters.
Another troubling aspect of the current case is the pressure exerted on media outlets. Law enforcement did not stop at arresting the two bloggers but also confiscated equipment belonging to Antifake.am, where they work. This essentially disrupted the outlet’s operations, a step that cannot be justified within a democratic framework and constitutes clear pressure on free expression.
In response, all major journalistic organizations in Armenia issued a joint statement condemning the authorities’ actions. The statement emphasized that the use of disproportionate force, the performative involvement of the NSS, the detention of other AntiFake.am employees unrelated to the case, and the seizure of all editorial equipment were unacceptable and incompatible with the behavior of a state that aspires to democratic standards.
It is also important to note that this is not the first time Samsonyan and Saghatelyan have faced prosecution under the same criminal article. In March 2024, they were similarly detained with excessive and highly demonstrative force for using sexually explicit insults against Prime Minister Pashinyan. Their pre-trial detention was later replaced with administrative supervision, and in May 2025 they were acquitted. This earlier case was included in Freedom House’s Freedom on the Net 2025 report.
In summary, it should be acknowledged that the use of insulting and especially sexualized language to smear and delegitimize political opponents poses a real threat to the level and quality of political discourse in countries like Armenia, where traditional cultural norms and specific societal attitudes heighten the sensitivity around such behavior. However, it remains essential to find the right balance between protecting citizens and public figures from verbal abuse and safeguarding freedom of speech. In July 2021, Armenia adopted a law criminalizing insults, but the provision was repealed in July 2022 following significant domestic and international pressure.
Relying on disproportionately punitive measures–especially when they are not applied consistently to all actors–will do little to improve the situation. A meaningful first step toward a solution would be a commitment by the ruling party to refrain from using such language themselves. As we have documented in recent months, Prime Minister Pashinyan and other government officials have frequently used offensive and unethical language to attack their opponents. In doing so, they legitimize this behavior and create justification for others to adopt even more derogatory rhetoric.
Democracy Watch is a joint initiative by CivilNet and the Regional Center for Democracy and Security, a Yerevan-based think tank.
This material has been funded by UK International Development from the UK government; however, the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies.