Fight breaks out in former Soviet republic after opposition told to apologise to women
Chairs and punches were thrown by MPs during a brawl in Armenia’s parliament in a row over a potential “Ministry of Sex”.
The opposition Strong Armenia party promised earlier this year to establish a new government ministry to leave “no unsatisfied women” in the country. It claimed the policy was needed because sexual dissatisfaction had caused a rise in political activism by middle-aged white women.
But on Thursday the proposal led to a violence in the legislature after Taron Chakhoyan, an MP in the ruling Civil Contract party, accused the opposition of being “steeped in corruption” and demanded its leader apologise to women for the proposed ministry.
A shouting match started with Narek Karapetyan, leader of Strong Armenia. Mr Chakhoyan allegedly called him a “mess from head to toe”.
MPs then jumped up and ran towards the podium where Mr Chakhoyan was delivering his speech and a fight broke out as members punched and kicked each other.
Vahagn Aleksanyan, deputy speaker of parliament and a member of Civil Contract, threw a chair towards opposition MPs and Mr Chakhoyan was seen pouring a glass of water on a rival.
Other MPs threw bottles and broke tables.
Nikol Pashinyan, the Armenian prime minister, later told a press conference: “I condemn violence, but I support the measures taken by the Civil Contract faction today, because [Strong Armenia] being in the opposition does not mean that one should become insolent.
“Whether with a chair or something else, it is proportionate and right.”
The prime minister also joked on Facebook that despite the opposition being called the “Strong Armenia” party, the MPs weren’t “physically strong”.
In the comment section, Mr Chakhoyan replied that he was “kind of upset. They [Strong Armenia] start a fight and then run away”.
Mr Chakhoyan apologised to the public for his opponents’ behaviour, describing it as “hooligan” and said: “It won’t work to provoke a fight and escape from the National Assembly session hall without getting beaten.”
Mr Karapetyan also defended the brawl in Parliament, calling it 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,” the opposition leader added.
Clothes ripped in recess
During the fight, the parliamentary speaker initially said he would not suspend the session so that “everyone can see all of this,” but decided to call a recess after violence intensified.
However the break did not calm the members down and the fighting allegedly carried on in the corridors. Security officers were forced to form a human wall between the opposing parties.
MPs were seen leaving the chamber with injuries and torn clothing.
The prosecutor general’s office told local media that there was “no information available” about any criminal proceedings following the fight.
In a separate parliament disruption on Thursday, opposition MPs in Albania set off smoke bombs and blocked the podium.
People have been protesting for months across the country for months in what is known as the Flamingo movement. Initially peaceful, these protests have intensified and become more disruptive and violent in recent weeks.
The action in Parliament began during a vote on a bill about the central bank, which members of the ruling Socialist Party were pushing forward despite protests.
The opposition MPs demanded Edi Rama, the prime minister, resign and accused police of using force against protestors.
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