YEREVAN: A mass brawl broke out in Armenia’s National Assembly on Thursday after a heated exchange between ruling Civil Contract lawmakers and members of the opposition Strong Armenia bloc escalated into a physical confrontation, forcing the session to be suspended.
The clash erupted during a speech by ruling-party MP Taron Chakhoyan, whose remarks about the opposition and the family of Strong Armenia faction leader Narek Karapetyan triggered an angry response from opposition lawmakers.
The verbal confrontation quickly descended into pushing and fighting, with punches and kicks exchanged inside the chamber. Reports also said National Assembly Deputy Speaker Vahagn Aleksanyan threw a chair towards opposition lawmakers.
Insults Spark Clash
Chakhoyan made critical remarks about opposition figures before directly addressing Karapetyan and referring to his family’s involvement in politics.
Lawmakers Trade Punches in Armenia Parliament Brawl
Punches flew in Armenia’s parliament, one lawmaker was knocked down while two others were injured after a heated exchange over an opposition leader’s family erupted into a physical brawl.
Security intervened after around 40 minutes, and the session was suspended as ambulances arrived.
It was the second such brawl in parliament this month.#Armenia #Parliament #PoliticalViolence #BreakingNews
— Sajjad Tarakzai (@SajjadTarakzai) October 29, 2026
Karapetyan responded from his seat, prompting further exchanges between lawmakers. Opposition members then approached the speaker’s podium, and the argument escalated into a physical altercation.
Footage circulated by Armenian media showed the confrontation spreading across the parliamentary chamber as lawmakers moved towards one another.
Speaker Ruben Rubinyan initially allowed proceedings to continue despite the growing disorder. As the violence intensified, a recess was declared, and security personnel intervened.
Injuries Reported
The confrontation reportedly spilt into the corridors outside the chamber, where lawmakers continued arguing as security personnel attempted to separate the opposing sides.
Opposition lawmaker Andranik Gevorgyan suffered a bloody nose, while Ruben Mkhitaryan’s clothes were torn during the scuffle. An ambulance was called to the parliament building, according to local media reports.
Security personnel eventually removed members of the Strong Armenia faction from the chamber as tensions continued.
Political Tensions
The latest confrontation follows another physical altercation between ruling-party and opposition lawmakers earlier in October.
That incident began after opposition lawmaker Edgar Ghazaryan criticised parliamentary procedures and accused the speaker of misusing public funds. The dispute escalated into a scuffle and forced the suspension of proceedings.
The repeated clashes highlight deepening hostility between Armenia’s ruling party and opposition factions, with parliamentary debates increasingly spilling into personal confrontations.
Thursday’s incident once again disrupted the work of the legislature, raising questions about lawmakers’ conduct and the ability of parliamentary leaders to maintain order during contentious debates.
