The Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Ms. Anahit Manasyan, has strongly condemned the altercation that broke out between Members of Parliament during a session of the National Assembly on July 8.
In a statement issued following the incident, Manasyan emphasized that Parliament must serve as a forum for democratic dialogue, not a “battlefield.” She underscored the urgent need to establish effective mechanisms to address issues related to parliamentary ethics.
The incident occurred during a parliamentary debate on a motion submitted by Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan, requesting permission to lift the immunity of Artur Sargsyan, an MP from the opposition “Armenia” faction, and to initiate criminal prosecution against him.
During his speech, Sargsyan stated that he was already certain the Parliament would vote to strip him of his immunity and place him under arrest. He announced his intention to visit a church with his family instead of spending time at the Parliament, and then voluntarily report to the Investigative Committee.
Following Sargsyan’s remarks, tensions escalated in the chamber, leading to a heated verbal exchange and physical scuffle between opposition and ruling party MPs. Deputy Speaker Ruben Rubinyan was forced to call a recess to restore order. The session resumed shortly afterward.
