Armenian Parliament Session Descends into Physical Brawl Between MPs

Overview of the Incident

A televised session of the Armenian parliament descended into a physical altercation on Thursday, October 29, 2026, as ruling party and opposition lawmakers traded punches and kicks. The confrontation occurred during deliberations regarding an appointment to the national Audit Chamber.

The Trigger for the Altercation

According to reports from the Armenian news agency Armenpress, the conflict began after Civil Contract party MP Taron Chakhoyan referenced a past pre-election statement made by a relative of opposition leader Narek Karapetyan. Chakhoyan brought up comments regarding a proposal to establish a "ministry to satisfy women," suggesting an apology was owed.

Escalation of Violence

• Physical Confrontation: Narek Karapetyan, leader of the Strong Armenia faction, approached the podium after an initial verbal exchange, leading to a scuffle.
• Chamber Chaos: Footage showed lawmakers exchanging blows inside the legislative chamber and eventually moving into the parliamentary corridor.
• Use of Objects: Deputy Speaker Vahagn Aleksanyan was reportedly observed throwing a chair toward opposition members during the chaos.
• External Intervention: Security personnel intervened to separate the factions. An ambulance was dispatched to the parliamentary building following the brawl.

Official Remarks and Aftermath

Parliament Speaker Ruben Rubinyan held Narek Karapetyan accountable for the escalation, asserting that the opposition leader failed to manage his emotions and attempted to strike Taron Chakhoyan. Rubinyan maintained that the ruling party MP’s initial comments were not offensive and noted that he permitted the live broadcast to continue so the public could witness the event.

Reports from the Ukrainian agency UNN indicated that opposition MP Andranik Gevorgyan sustained a nose injury, while lawmaker Ruben Mkhitaryan's clothing was damaged during the fight. Security forces eventually established a barrier between the two groups as tensions persisted. This incident follows a similar clash between the same factions earlier in October 2026.