Chairs tossed amid brawl in Armenia’s Parliament

The brawl was the most violent incident in the new parliament since the June parliamentary elections, following several tense exchanges in the preceding months.

The incident began during a speech by Civil Contract MP Taron Chakhoyan, who accused the opposition, including Strong Armenia, of being ‘steeped in corruption’.

‘People steeped in corruption are talking about corruption, fake accounts, and targeting family members. Mr [Narek] Karapetyan, it is not my fault that your entire extended family is involved in politics, including your uncle, your father, and your cousin, who even tried to open a ministry in our country. It is not my fault that he wanted to open a ministry that would satisfy all women. You have still not apologised to women for that’, Chakhoyan said.

Chakhoyan was referring to controversial remarks made in January by Sargis Karapetyan, the cousin of Strong Armenia leader Narek Karapetyan and son of Russian–Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan. Sargis Karapetyan said that if his party came to power, there would be ‘no unsatisfied woman’ in Armenia, discussing the possibility of establishing a hypothetical Ministry of Sex. The comments sparked an outcry, with critics accusing him of sexism.

In response to Chakhoyan’s remarks, Narek Karapetyan shouted from his seat, and tensions escalated as MPs gathered near the podium and around the faction leader.

After several minutes of confrontation, Parliamentary Speaker Ruben Rubinyan said he would not suspend the session.

‘I will deliberately not suspend the session so that everyone can see all of this’, Rubinyan said.

‘You decide whether there is going to be a brawl or not. I don’t mind; you decide, or disperse and take your seats. I’m not going to announce a recess; I’m waiting patiently’, he added.

The confrontation eventually turned physical. Chakhoyan was seen pouring a glass of water on an opposition MP, while Deputy Speaker of Parliament Vahagn Aleksanyan, a member of Civil Contract, threw a chair towards opposition MPs. MPs were later seen leaving the chamber with injuries and torn clothing.

As the fighting intensified, MPs threw bottles and almost overturned tables and chairs. Rubinyan eventually announced a recess, which lasted around an hour.

According to RFE/RL, the brawl continued in the parliamentary corridors, where security staff formed a human barrier between the opposing sides.

When the session resumed, Rubinyan blamed Narek Karapetyan for starting the fight, saying he had reviewed the footage of the incident and that Chakhoyan had not used ‘a single insulting word in his speech’.

‘You, Mr Karapetyan, were unable to control yourself, your emotions. You shouted insulting remarks from your seat and then stood up, attempting to hit Taron Chakhoyan. After that, Garnik Davtyan struck Chakhoyan first, and then what happened, happened’, Rubinyan said.

He also cited rumours that assistants to Strong Armenia MPs had attacked CIvil Contract MPs in the corridors and noted that the information needed to be verified. He added that, if confirmed, those responsible would be expelled from parliament.

Rubinyan rejected opposition MPs’ criticism that his failure to intervene earlier had allowed the situation to escalate. However, he did not comment on the conduct of his own party colleagues, including Aleksanyan throwing a chair towards opposition MPs.

Pashinyan also weighed in on the incident on Facebook, writing: ‘I thought at least they were physically strong. Apparently not’, in apparent play on words referencing the name of the Strong Armenia party.

In the comments section, Rubinyan responded that he was ‘very disappointed too’. In turn, Chakhoyan commented that he was ‘kind of upset. They start a fight and then run away’.

Speaking at his weekly press briefing, Pashinyan condemned the violence but defended the actions of Civil Contract MPs.

‘I condemn violence, but I support the measures taken by the Civil Contract faction today, because being in the opposition does not mean that one should become insolent’, he said.

‘Whether with a chair or something else, it is proportionate and right’, Pashinyan added.

After the recess, Chakhoyan apologised to the public for the opposition’s behaviour, describing it as ‘hooliganism’. He also claimed that the incident had been planned in advance.

Narek Karapetyan, meanwhile, called it a ‘a normal Armenian-style man-to-man fight’.

‘People who had been getting on our nerves for months got it right in the mouth — and got it good’, Karapetyan said.

Armenian Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan strongly condemned the incident, saying parliament should be a platform for democratic debate rather than a ‘battlefield’.

‘The incident must be properly investigated in accordance with the procedure established by law’, Manasyan added.

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