Corruption accusations spark tension
Civil Contract MP Taron Chakhoyan triggered a parliamentary brawl on Thursday by accusing opposition lawmakers of being "steeped in corruption" during a debate. The session concerned a proposal from the Standing Committee on Financial, Credit and Budgetary Issues to appoint Karen Arustamyan, a Civil Contract member, to the Chamber of Accounts. Chakhoyan named Ishkhan Zakaryan and Gagik Khachatryan, who both associate with former president Robert Kocharyan, before addressing Mesrop Manukyan of the Armenia faction. He called Manukyan the assistant of "Manvel the canned meat thief," a reference to former general Manvel Grigoryan, who was arrested in 2018 after supplies donated for soldiers were found at his properties. Chakhoyan also attacked Narek Karapetyan, leader of the Strong Armenia faction, by criticizing the political involvement of Karapetyan’s father, uncle, and cousin. He claimed it was not his fault that the extended family is involved in politics. He specifically mentioned a cousin who even tried to open a ministry in the country that would satisfy all women. These remarks targeted comments from January made by Sargis Karapetyan, who suggested a hypothetical "Ministry of Sex" could ensure there would be "no unsatisfied woman" in Armenia.
Physical confrontation in the chamber
Narek Karapetyan shouted from his seat in response to the accusations, causing MPs to gather around the faction leader. The confrontation turned physical when Chakhoyan poured water on an opposition deputy and Deputy Speaker Vahagn Aleksanyan threw a chair toward opposition members. The scuffle escalated into punches and kicks that left one opposition deputy with a bleeding nose and necessitated that an ambulance arrive at the parliament building to treat an injured deputy. This occurred during an exchange of ideas phase concerning the candidacy of Karen Arustamyan. During the fighting, MPs threw bottles and almost overturned tables and chairs. Speaker Ruben Rubinyan initially refused to suspend the session, telling the assembly, "I will deliberately not suspend the session so that everyone can see all of this," before eventually calling a recess that lasted about an hour. MPs left the chamber with injuries and torn clothing. Rubinyan rejected criticism that his failure to intervene earlier allowed the situation to escalate, though he did not comment on Aleksanyan throwing a chair toward opposition lawmakers. Security staff formed a human barrier in the corridors to separate the groups as the brawl continued.
Reactions from party leaders
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan defended his party’s actions during a weekly press briefing, stating that the measures taken by the Civil Contract faction were "proportionate and right." Pashinyan condemned the violence but added, "I thought at least they were physically strong. Apparently not." Speaker Rubinyan blamed Narek Karapetyan for the escalation, asserting that Karapetyan shouted insults and attempted to hit Chakhoyan before Garnik Davtyan struck Chakhoyan first. Rubinyan noted that Chakhoyan had not used "a single insulting word in his speech." Rubinyan also noted rumors that assistants to Strong Armenia MPs attacked Civil Contract MPs in the corridors, though he said the information requires verification. He added that if the information is confirmed, those responsible will face expulsion from parliament. Chakhoyan apologized to the public, describing the incident as "hooliganism" and claiming the event happened because it was planned in advance. Narek Karapetyan, meanwhile, dismissed the violence as "a normal Armenian-style man-to-man fight" and claimed people who had been getting on their nerves "got it right in the mouth" after months of tension. Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan strongly condemned the incident, saying parliament should be a platform for democratic debate rather than a "battlefield." She added that the incident must be properly investigated in accordance with the procedure established by law.
