Lawmakers in Armenia’s National Assembly have exchanged punches, thrown chairs and engaged in a physical confrontation following a heated disagreement over a controversial proposal to establish a government department dubbed the “Ministry of Sex”.
The clash reportedly occurred on Thursday, October 29, 2026, involving members of the ruling Civil Contract party and the opposition Strong Armenia party.
The controversy stemmed from earlier comments by Sargis Karapetyan, a relative of opposition leader Narek Karapetyan, who suggested that Armenia needed a ministry to address women’s sexual dissatisfaction as part of efforts to tackle the country’s declining birth rate.
The proposal followed remarks by a sociologist who had attributed increased political activism among middle-aged women to sexual dissatisfaction.
During Thursday’s parliamentary session, ruling party lawmaker Taron Chakhoyan raised the controversial comments and demanded an apology from the opposition, accusing its members of making inappropriate remarks about women.
The exchange escalated when opposition leader Narek Karapetyan responded angrily, prompting lawmakers from both sides to approach the podium and engage in a physical confrontation.
Footage from the parliamentary chamber showed lawmakers punching and kicking one another, throwing chairs and bottles, while some grabbed their opponents by their clothes.
Deputy Speaker Vahagn Aleksanyan was also seen throwing a chair towards opposition lawmakers, while Chakhoyan poured water on opposition legislator Garnik Davtyan.
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Ruben Rubinyan, initially allowed the session to continue despite the disturbance but eventually declared a recess as the confrontation spread beyond the parliamentary chamber.
Ambulances were reportedly called to the parliament building following the incident, with some lawmakers sustaining injuries, including one who was seen bleeding from the nose.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan later condemned violence but expressed support for the actions of lawmakers from his ruling party, describing their response as proportionate.
The incident marks another episode of growing tensions between Armenia’s ruling party and opposition lawmakers, with similar physical confrontations reportedly occurring in the parliament in recent weeks.
