Activist Narek Samsonyan has declared a hunger strike.

A Yerevan court extended the pretrial detention of Narek Samsonyan and Vazgen Saghatelyan, co-authors of the "Imnemnimi" podcast, on charges of hooliganism. Following this ruling, Narek Samsonyan announced an indefinite hunger strike.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot," the Investigative Committee of Armenia opened a criminal case in November against Narek Samsonyan and Vazgen Saghatelyan, hosts of the "Imnemnimi" podcast. The hosts are accused of hooliganism using information technology. Both activists were arrested, and the Speaker of the Armenian Parliament filed a lawsuit against the podcast hosts demanding compensation for insults.

A court in Yerevan's Nor Nork district today began hearing the case against Vazgen Saghatelyan and Narek Samsonyan, co-authors of the "Imnemnimi" podcast, considering the extension of their pretrial detention. The arrest of both activists has been extended for three months. Following this decision, Narek Samsonyan announced an indefinite hunger strike, according to Novosti Armenia.

The prosecutor insisted on extending the arrest of Samsonyan and Saghatelyan, noting that Vazgen Saghatelyan is a Russian citizen and may attempt to leave Armenia. Saghatelyan himself called the prosecutor's statement shameful, declaring that he "has no intention of fleeing," according to Sputnik Armenia.

According to the defense, the prosecutor failed to present compelling arguments to extend the activists' detention. Narek Samsonyan's defense attorney, Astghik Matevosyan, noted that her client went on a hunger strike in protest against lawlessness and thus continues his fight for freedom of speech in Armenia.

Anna Mkrtchyan, a member of the National Assembly of Armenia from the opposition "I Have the Honor" faction, speaking to journalists in the courthouse courtyard, stated that Narek Samsonyan and Vazgen Saghatelyan are hostages of the regime. "They have not committed any criminal offense. Their detention is solely due to their expression of civic stance," Panorama.am quotes the MP as saying.

Narek Samsonyan's wife, Lusine Arakelyan, commenting on her husband's announcement of an indefinite hunger strike, stated that such a move was "in keeping with his style" and that the court's decision did not come as a surprise to her.

"I hoped that today the court would demonstrate its independence, guided by the principles of the rule of law and justice, but we witnessed how the detention period was unjustifiably extended for another three months," the publication quotes her as saying.