An ambulance was dispatched to the parliamentary building following the incident. Opposition MP Andranik Gevorgyan was seen with a bleeding nose, while fellow lawmaker Ruben Mkhitaryan’s clothes were reportedly torn during the scuffle. (Image/ Screengrab via X)
Armenia’s parliament descended into chaos on Thursday as lawmakers from the ruling party and opposition exchanged punches and kicks during a televised session, following a heated dispute over a controversial pre-election statement.
The confrontation erupted during a debate on the appointment of a member to the country’s Audit Chamber after ruling Civil Contract party MP Taron Chakhoyan referred to a remark made by a relative of opposition leader Narek Karapetyan. The statement concerned a proposal to establish a separate “ministry to satisfy women” if the opposition came to power.
Karapetyan, who heads the opposition Strong Armenia faction, responded from his seat before approaching the podium, triggering a physical altercation between lawmakers from the rival camps.
The clash escalated into a wider brawl, with MPs throwing punches and kicks. The confrontation spilled from the parliamentary chamber into the corridors, prompting security personnel and fellow lawmakers to intervene. Deputy Speaker Vahagn Aleksanyan was also seen throwing a chair towards opposition lawmakers, according to video footage.
Parliament Speaker Ruben Rubinyan later blamed Karapetyan for triggering the confrontation. He said he had reviewed footage of the incident and found no offensive remarks in Chakhoyan’s speech. Rubinyan accused Karapetyan of losing his temper and attempting to strike Chakhoyan.
The Speaker also said opposition MP Garnik Davtyan had hit Chakhoyan after the fight began. He added that he had allowed the live broadcast to continue so the public could witness the events inside parliament.
An ambulance was dispatched to the parliamentary building following the incident. Opposition MP Andranik Gevorgyan was seen with a bleeding nose, while fellow lawmaker Ruben Mkhitaryan’s clothes were reportedly torn during the scuffle.
The incident highlights escalating tensions between Armenia’s ruling party and opposition factions, which have repeatedly clashed during parliamentary proceedings.
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