Armenia’s parliament descended into chaos after rival MPs exchanged punches, hurled chairs and threw water at one another during a heated dispute over a bizarre proposal to establish a “Ministry of Sex”.
Shocking footage of Thursday’s confrontation showed lawmakers fighting inside the parliamentary chamber, with some grabbing each other’s clothes while others attempted to separate the warring politicians.
The clash, reportedly the third parliamentary brawl in just days, was triggered by a proposal from opposition politicians belonging to the pro-Russia Strong Armenia party.
The lawmakers had suggested establishing a Ministry of Sex, claiming that a lack of sexual satisfaction among women was driving them towards political activism.
The ruling Civil Contract party rejected the proposal, which was reportedly intended to ensure there were “no unsatisfied women”.
Tensions escalated when a ruling party MP demanded an apology from the opposition, sparking an explosive confrontation near the parliamentary podium.
Civil Contract MP Taron Chakhoyan had earlier accused the opposition of being “steeped in corruption” and made personal allegations about nepotism involving the family of an opposition politician.
Addressing Strong Armenia MP Narek Karapetyan, Chakhoyan said: “Mr 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.”
Karapetyan reportedly responded by calling Chakhoyan a “mess from head to toe”.
The verbal exchange quickly turned physical as rival lawmakers rushed towards the podium and began throwing punches.
In the chaotic scenes, parliament’s deputy speaker Vahagn Aleksanyan was seen hurling a red leather chair, while Chakhoyan poured a glass of water over opposition MP Garnik Davtyan, according to The Telegraph.
One politician was also seen removing his blazer and carefully placing it over a wooden railing before joining the fight.
Other lawmakers were caught kicking and grabbing one another as the confrontation spiralled out of control.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan later condemned violence but defended the actions of his ruling party’s lawmakers.
“I condemn violence, but I support the measures taken by the Civil Contract faction today.
“Whether with a chair or something else, it is proportionate and right,” he said.
Pashinyan later took a swipe at the opposition on Facebook, joking that despite being called “Strong Armenia”, its MPs were not physically strong.
Karapetyan, meanwhile, defended the confrontation, describing it as 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,” he said.
The parliamentary speaker initially allowed the confrontation to continue so that “everyone could see all of this”.
However, as the violence intensified, he eventually called for a recess, although the order appeared to be ignored.
The fighting reportedly continued in the corridors, with several politicians emerging from the chamber with torn clothing and injuries.
The prosecutor’s office told local media that there was “no information available” regarding any criminal proceedings following the incident.
