Vazgen Saghatelyan, co-host of the Imnemnimi podcast, said during a court hearing in his criminal case, where the public prosecutor presented the indictment, that the proceedings constitute “blatant political persecution with no connection to justice or the rule of law.”

“We see that in real bastions of democracy—in Europe and the U.S.—freedom of speech is protected, while here a fake version is being presented, trying to portray this process as one about speech and democracy,” Saghatelyan said, according to Panorama.am .

Asked by the judge whether he admits the charges brought against him, Saghatelyan replied unequivocally: “Absolutely not.”

For his part, co-host Narek Samsonyan said: “I am ready to plead guilty right now if they bring the Speaker of the National Assembly here and seat him for calling us ‘puppies.’”

He stressed that he is prepared to bear responsibility if Alen Simonyan is charged for showing disrespect toward the public and insulting a person with obscene language.

“In all other cases, like now… this is simply torture, and I am ready for it,” Samsonyan said.

On January 9, the court extended the detention of Narek Samsonyan and Vazgen Saghatelyan by three months. After the ruling, Samsonyan announced an indefinite hunger strike. After 14 days on hunger strike, the Imnemnimi podcast co-host ended the protest, was transferred from the penitentiary to the Izmirlian Medical Center, and later underwent surgery.