The editorial staff of AntiFake.am has sent a letter to the US Ambassador to Armenia, urgently appealing to her regarding political persecution, Unlawful Detentions, and obstruction of Media Freedom in Armenia.
Your Excellency,
We, the editorial staff of AntiFake.am, are writing to you with a deep sense of urgency and grave concern regarding the politically motivated persecution, unlawful arrests, and direct obstruction of independent media currently taking place in the Republic of Armenia.
Over the past weeks the fonder of AntiFake.am together with the news outlet’s journalists and technical staff have become targets of an unprecedented campaign of pressure, intimidation, and state-sponsored repression. These events represent a severe and escalating threat to freedom of speech, media independence, and democratic principles in Armenia.
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Below, we present the full picture of the events as they unfolded.
On November 13, 2025, armed and masked representatives of Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) simultaneously raided:
- the homes of Narek Samsonyan, founder of AntiFake.am and co-host of the “Imnemnimi” Podcast,
- the home of Vazgen Saghatelyan, co-host of the same Podcast,
- and the editorial office of AntiFake.am.
Despite the absence of resistance, both Narek and Vazgen were arrested with unnecessary force. During the raid on our editorial office, all equipment essential for our journalistic activity was seized, including:
- all computers and hard drives,
- all cameras (including those without storage),
- all microphones and audio devices,
- all tripods and lighting equipment,
- all drones,
- the office’s security camera DVR,
- power banks, batteries, chargers, and livestreaming equipment.
Much of this equipment could not possibly contain any “evidence”, as many items (e.g., microphones, tripods, drones, empty cameras) do not store data.
The purpose was clearly and exclusively to completely paralyze the work of the media outlet.
Two weeks after the raid, none of the equipment has been returned.
Following the raid, NSS officers detained two members of our staff:
- David Fidanyan, journalist — detained for three days,
- Ishkhan Khosrovyan, cameraman — detained for several hours.
Both arrests were arbitrary, carried out without legal grounds, and intended solely to create a chilling effect and intimidate the editorial staff.
Narek Samsonyan and Vazgen Saghatelyan, the two founders and central figures of the “Imnemnimi” podcast—one of Armenia’s most viewed political podcasts—were placed under two months of pre-trial imprisonment.
Their arrest took place:
- on the same charges for which they were prosecuted in March–May 2024
- and for which the first-instance court fully acquitted them.
- The Prosecutor’s Office appealed the acquittal, and the case is still pending at the Court of Appeals.
This chain of persecution began immediately after the release of their podcast episode featuring Armenia’s third president.
In response to that episode:
- the Speaker of the Armenian Parliament publicly insulted the two hosts, calling them “sons of bitches”;
- the podcasters responded with a significantly milder remark, one of them, Narek Samsonyan, used the word “buttoks” while discussing the Speaker’s conduct;
- the Speaker then filed a criminal complaint, alleging “hooliganism” and “threats,” accusations that are demonstrably unfounded.
State structures acted upon this complaint with unprecedented speed and force, leading to the arrests and raids described above.
As a nation committed to democratic development, Armenia has long relied on the support and partnership of the United States.
Today, we respectfully request your attention and engagement because:
- the situation involves clear violations of freedom of expression,
- abuse of state power against journalists,
- and politically motivated imprisonment.
The United States has historically played a vital role in supporting media freedom and democratic institutions in Armenia.
Your principled attention and diplomatic engagement can help protect the lives, rights, and freedoms of journalists who are being targeted for their work.
We respectfully request:
- To demand the immediate release of political prisoners Narek Samsonyan and Vazgen Saghatelyan.
- To raise concerns through appropriate diplomatic channels regarding the political motivation behind their imprisonment.
- To monitor the actions of law enforcement bodies in connection with restrictions on AntiFake.am’s operations.
- To support efforts aimed at safeguarding media freedom and freedom of expression in Armenia.
Your Excellency,
We are ready to provide any additional documentation, evidence, recordings, or other materials related to these cases.
We firmly believe that democratic societies cannot exist without free media, and today in Armenia, this fundamental value is under direct attack.
Sincerely,
AntiFake.am Editorial staff
