The homes of “Imnemnimi” podcast hosts and opposition figures Narek Samsonyan and Vazgen Saghatelyan were searched early this morning, after which both were detained, according to their lawyer Ruben Melikyan, who reported the incident live on Facebook.
Melikyan stated that he was not permitted to enter Samsonyan’s home during the search and that the two are being charged under what he described as the “old, repeatedly used ‘hooliganism’ article.”
The Investigative Committee confirmed that “urgent investigative actions” had been conducted in the opposition figures’ homes as part of an ongoing criminal case.
Meanwhile, a video circulated on social media showing law enforcement officers twisting Samsonyan’s arms, escorting him out of his home, and placing him into a vehicle.
Saghatelyan, for his part, wrote on social media that masked officers broke into his home during the operation.
Just last week, their podcast featured Armenia’s third president, Serzh Sargsyan, as a guest.
