''Hunger strike, day 1: responding to reactions''. Narek Samsonyan

Warm greetings from "Armavir" Penitentiary Institution to all our supporters, friends, and colleagues. Below, I would like to address your Facebook posts (which I received in printed form), comments given to the media, and opinions conveyed to me personally. I will not address the theater containing apparent elements of a crime that took place in the courtroom today; there is no point in addressing that.
I want to separately address my political decision to start a hunger strike and the opinions circulating in the public-political field regarding it, with which I have familiarized myself as much as possible. So, let me start from the beginning: as a person who has been active in this field for quite some time, I have always been guided by ideological and value-based landmarks. At no stage of my activity have I deviated from the value orbit I envisioned back when I was 17. I have always held the conviction that politics is not immorality, and that those involved in politics are the same in politics as they are in their daily lives. I have always despised the unprincipled, the cowardly, and those who value their own skin above all else. I was certain, and am more certain now than ever, that a person must be ready for self-sacrifice for their adopted ideas, value system, and principles, and must be decisive in their actions. All the history-making individuals known to mankind possessed these qualities, and that is precisely why their names and deeds have been immortalized. Generations have been inspired by the deeds of these people, but not everyone has turned that inspiration into real self-sacrifice and determination. For me, politics has been anchored in these values; I myself have been inspired by such individuals, and I have always thought that beyond inspiration lie actions. And actions always start with small steps.
Based on the above, after thinking for a long time and weighing all consequences and the most probable negative outcomes, I made a conscious decision to take my small step and declared an indefinite hunger strike with the PRELIMINARY demand to lift this blatant illegality against me—my imprisonment. I am confident that this decision is correct, timely, and effective—at least from the perspective of remaining faithful to my own ideological and value-based belonging.
Now, let me address my expectations from the hunger strike and the misunderstandings present in the reactions of my friends and simply concerned people on social networks today. I have encountered the formulation "It is impossible to pressure the authorities with a hunger strike" in many people's posts, and I partially agree with this statement. I just want to say: my dears, who said that I am trying to pressure the authorities with a hunger strike?
"The government doesn't give a damn whether its opponents live or die." I completely agree with this statement, and one of the goals of my hunger strike is to make this simple truth accessible to the widest possible masses through my own example. People must see the real face of these people (don't say they already see and know; if that were the case, this government would be in prison) through my example. I want to demonstrate the ugly face of this government to the fake democrats covering its backside. What I am doing is not an act of desperation, but an act of exercising the right to use the last resort. Desperation is a phenomenon contrary to my nature, and frankly speaking, it is even insulting to hear or read such opinions.
I consider discussions like "it will yield results" or "it won't yield results" pointless, because for me, the most important result was, is, and remains making such a decision and carrying it out.
I also consider emotional posts about my family, my mother, and my children to be normal, but I assure you all: I have thought about that the most, and if, after that, I still decided to start a hunger strike, then that is certainly not the argument that will hold me back from my intention. My family, including my children, will certainly live with their heads held high and will confidently support me during the implementation of this decision.
I urge all concerned people, instead of calls to stop the hunger strike, to support, speak out, and show everyone my example when remembering these criminal authorities, when speaking about their disgraceful acts. Such manifestations would be a great help to me, for which I thank you all in advance.
During the hunger strike, I plan to come forward with public articles on a daily basis regarding the political situation, actors, processes, and other topics.
My struggle continues. God help us all.
Determination, self-sacrifice, victory!!!