The editorial team of AntiFake held a protest in front of the European Union delegation building in Armenia, where they handed over a letter from Lusine Arakelyan—the wife of political prisoner Narek Samsonyan—to Ambassador Vassilis Maragos.

The demonstrators also highlighted the unlawful persecution of podcast co-authors Vazgen Saghatelyan and Narek Samsonyan, Aysor.am reports.

During the protest, human rights advocate Ruben Melikyan declared that the action was a clear message to the European Union and should be seen as a mark of shame.

“This protest, held in front of the EU delegation, is a symbol of shame for the EU, whose decades-long promotion of values has resulted in a country where people are imprisoned for uttering the word ‘butt’,” Panorama.am quotes him as saying.

Melikyan emphasized that nearly thirty years of EU support have led to the current situation.

He added that it was particularly relevant to gather in front of the EU office to raise awareness about ongoing judicial proceedings, including the arrest of Archbishop Arshak.

“I’ve just come from the Court of First Instance in Avan, where Judge Masis Melkonyan—whom we now call the ‘Monarch Judge’ for having jailed three archbishops—issued yet another predictable ruling. It’s clear the repressive machine is advancing, and the current authorities see little reason to restrain themselves,” Melikyan said.

He recalled that the EU has frequently issued statements in defense of democratic values.

Melikyan said they had come to the EU office hoping to be invited inside to explain the facts—namely, that someone is imprisoned in Armenia for saying the word ‘butt.’

Protester Vahe Movsisyan also spoke, stating that the current government has crossed all red lines and “formed a dictatorship.”

On November 13, National Security Service officers arrested Vazgen Saghatelyan and Narek Samsonyan, co-hosts of the "Imnemnimi" podcast on AntiFake.am . A court later ordered their two-month pre-trial detention. The prosecution was initiated based on a complaint from Alen Simonyan. According to the Investigative Committee, the case was filed under Article 297, Part 2, Points 1 and 3 of the Criminal Code (hooliganism committed by a group using information or communication technologies).