Armenian lawmakers trade punches and throw chairs in parliament during a heated dispute over a proposed “Ministry of Sex.”
A chaotic fistfight broke out inside the National Assembly of Armenia in Yerevan after an argument between politicians from the ruling party and opposition members turned violent.
The fight began during a parliamentary session after heated arguments over an earlier political proposal to create a specialized government department called the “Ministry of Sex”.
The violent incident marks the third time within a single month that members of the Armenian parliament have engaged in physical fights inside the legislative building.
Live television cameras broadcasting the official government proceedings captured politicians throwing heavy punches, pulling clothes, hurling water, and throwing office furniture across the floor as security personnel struggled to restore order.
The argument began when ruling Civil Contract party lawmaker Taron Chakhoyan took the microphone at the main podium to address the house.
He brought up a previous proposal linked to the opposition Strong Armenia party, which suggested creating a new ministry to address women’s private issues and birth rate concerns.
The opposition had claimed that a lack of private satisfaction was driving more women into public political activism.
Addressing the opposition party leader directly from the speaker’s podium, Taron Chakhoyan stated:
“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.”
He continued demanding a public apology on behalf of all female citizens, adding:
“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.”
The opposition leader, Narek Karapetyan, became very angry at the podium remarks. He shouted back at the speaker from his seat, calling him a “mess from head to toe” before rushing toward the main stage.
The exchange quickly turned into an all-out physical brawl as politicians from both sides joined the fight. During the chaos, Deputy Speaker Vahagn Aleksanyan lifted a red leather chair and threw it toward the crowd of fighting lawmakers, while Chakhoyan poured a bottle of water over opposition MP Garnik Davtyan.
Medical teams were called to the parliament building after the fight spilled into the outer corridors. Several lawmakers suffered minor injuries, including torn clothes and facial bleeding, before security guards finally separated the opposing groups.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan later defended his ruling party members, while opposition groups maintained that they were provoked into the fight.
Jennifer Baba is a journalist, international news correspondent, and writer at Moderncrux, where she covers artificial intelligence, fintech, emerging technologies, global politics, and international affairs. Based in Nigeria, she is passionate about transforming complex global developments into clear, engaging stories that inform and inspire readers.
